February 2011 - JEFFCO Public Schools

Blue Ribbon winners not once, but twice 

Dennison Elementary is the only school in 

Colorado to receive the U.S. Department of 

Education Blue Ribbon designation twice. The 

school won the award in 2003 and again this 

year for student achievement. 

“When parents were asked what they appreciate 

about Dennison, they consistently said the 

school provides an academically rigorous and 

well-rounded education,” said Helen Littlejohn, 

the Department of Education’s senior public 

affairs specialist. 

Dennison was among 264 public schools and 

50 private schools across the country honored 

with blue ribbon performance. Only six schools 

in Colorado received the award this year. 

“The journey for a blue ribbon is not done 

in isolation,” Dennison Elementary Principal 

Kathy Krieger told a stadium full of cheering 

Dennison students, parents and teachers at a 

ceremony in November. 

She credited parents who quiz their students 

over spelling words and math facts. “It takes a 

relentless effort on your part to help your kids 

be successful in school. We couldn’t do it without 

you. It’s the partnership.” 

She tipped her hat to the Dennison staff, “I 

Jeffco Superintendent Dr. Cindy Stevenson and Dennison Principal Kathy Krieger hold the blue ribbon banner, along with 

Dennison's student council co-chairmen Charles Doebbler and Bryce Lorenz. 

can unequivocally say I work with the most 

gifted and dedicated staff in the world.” 

Then Krieger said the third component of 

blue ribbon success is the students. She told 

them, “I know our world is in great hands in 

the future because you are going to be our 

leaders.” 

Our Mission 

To provide a quality 

education that prepares 

all children for a 

successful future. 

Jeffco Public Schools is home to 

more than 85,000 of Colorado's 

finest students. Step inside one 

of our 150 schools and you will 

see a staff dedicated to building a 

bright future for every student. 

Our staff is supported by a 

committed school board, involved 

parents and a caring community 

that combine to provide 

a quality education that 

prepares all children for 

a promising future. 

Lakewood resident Pam Feely at O'Connell Middle School with eighth-graders Mystee Paige and Jessica Nguyen. 

Math matters 

Pam Feely knows her way around numbers. 

As a certified public accountant, she crunches 

facts and figures for a living. Now, she’s helping 

Jeffco students realize how important numbers 

are to their futures. 

What began as a small gesture to help out kids 

in need, added up to a partnership that is benefiting 

school districts around the state. 

“In 2005, I bought some protractors for the 

Jeffco Action Center’s School Supply Drive 

when they told me that they are the one tool 

kids need, but not many people donate,” said 

Feely. “I told my sister, who sells promotional 

products, and asked her for some help.” 

Feely’s sister told her about a math kit product 

on the market that included a protractor, 

compass, pencil, eraser, sharpener and several 

rulers. 

“It was reasonably priced so I bought 

100 of them,” added Feely. 

Feely’s first stop was O’Connell Middle 

School, which is in her neighborhood. The 

math kits were a hit, but not every student 

was able to get one – there weren’t enough 

to go around. That’s when Feely picked up 

the phone to reach out to other local charities, 

like the Belmar Optimists; they donated 

enough money to give every O’Connell student 

a kit. 

“It’s a great donation that we love,” said 

O’Connell Middle School math teacher John 

Compton. 

“When we get to geometry, the kids need 

protractors and compasses. A lot of times our 

kids don’t have them so it’s a great gift,” he 

said. 

“They come in handy,” agreed O’Connell 

eighth-grader Mystee Paige. 

“I think they’re pretty cool because some kids, 

they don’t have that stuff,” added O’Connell 

student Jessica Nguyen. 

“I’ve heard about a young man at Wheat 

Ridge Middle School who is very protective of 

his math kit,” said Feely. “He’s an artist and uses 

the tools in his artwork projects.” 

By starting small, Feely displayed the math 

kit in her office reception area. Then the charity 

just began adding up. “One of my clients saw 

T 

urn to page 11 to read 

an interview with members 

of one of rock music’s 

hottest bands, the Fray. 

the kit and suggested I contact Kinder Morgan 

Foundation because they support kids,” said 

Feely. 

Many more local charities joined Feely’s 

project: the Leprino Foundation, Lakewood 

Legacy, Lakewood Brick and Xcel Energy. The 

Jefferson Foundation helped Feely raise the 

money needed to expand the program. Since 

then, Feely has raised enough money to buy 

nearly 12,000 math kits for Jeffco schools. 

Feely’s program has expanded to include the 

Adams 12, Adams 14 and Escuela Guadalupe 

school districts.

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20058_TMD_NorthMetroNews_Ad_F.indd 1 

To advertise in the Jeffco Schools Quarterly, 

please call 303-279-5541 

1/17/11 3:26:29 PM 

Call to Schedule a Tour 

303.231.9801 

FreeHorizonMontessori.org 

Located Near 6th Aveune & Colfax / C-470 & I-70 Interchange 

Jeffco Schools Quarterly 

2 

www.jeffcopublicschools.org

Dr. Cindy Stevenson 

Superintendent, Jeffco Schools 

Message from the Superintendent 

“Resilience will be 

the defining concept of 

the 21st century.” 

- Joshua Cooper Ramo 

As we usher in a new year, I have 

often thought about that statement 

and how important it is that in an 

age of uncertainty, we be resilient, 

both as people and as organizations. 

Change is a constant in our world; 

and we must teach our children to 

embrace change and prosper in the 

21st Century. 

For our students to embrace 

change, they need attributes in four 

areas. First, they need to be good 

human beings with a core of strong 

values like hard work, persistence, 

kindness, and honesty. Second, they 

need sustainable skills. Those skills 

include reading, writing, oral communication, 

mathematics, literacy, 

and use of technology. Third, our 

students need essential qualities 

including imagination, curiosity, 

creativity, critical thinking, and 

problem solving. Finally, our students 

need access to their passions: 

art, music, athletics, physical education, 

and all the other electives. 

In times of shrinking resources 

and uncertain times, our resilience 

as a community will determine 

whether 100 percent of our students 

graduate with the above four 

gifts. Let’s join together and support 

our children in these uncertain 

times and make sure that all of 

our students graduate with great 

choices for the future. 

Thank you for supporting Jeffco 

schools as we move forward in the 

year ahead. 

Jeffco 

Schools 

Quarterly 

A free publication for parents 

and residents of Jefferson 

County, the Quarterly is 

published four times a year 

in partnership with Mile High 

Newspapers. The school 

district's Communications 

Schools stand for excellence 

Stein Elementary School and 

Deane Elementary School, both 

in the Alameda articulation area, 

have been named 2010 Centers 

of Excellence by the Colorado 

Department of Education (CDE). 

Only 32 schools in Colorado 

received the prestigious award and 

it's Stein's second year to get the 

honor. 

CDE recognizes public schools 

that enroll a student population 

with 75 percent of students who are 

at-risk and show the highest rates 

of student growth in reading, writing 

and math as measured by the 

Colorado Growth Model. 

"Schools are now being judged on 

their growth," said Stein Principal 

Socorro Alarcon. "Many of our kindergartners 

have never held a pencil 

in their hand, but despite the challenges, 

we are able to help kids 

achieve and reach grade-level proficiency 

at the end of the year." 

Alarcon said the award proves 

that all kids can learn, despite the 

demographics. "It's a testament to 

the work we are doing here," she 

said. "It's a team effort, it's not one 

person, it's school-wide." 

Deane celebrates the CDE award 

along with a recent announcement 

of a $25,000 grant from the Gates 

Deane Elementary School Principal Charlene White, Colorado Commissioner of Education Dwight Jones and Stein Elementary Principal Socorro 

Alarcon show off their 2010 Centers of Excellence awards. 

Foundation and Daniels Fund. "We 

were approached by the foundation 

to apply because they were looking 

for schools with more than 25 percent 

free and reduced lunch students 

who also had substantial growth," 

said Deane Principal Charlene 

White. 

The foundation performed a site 

visit, interviewed White and some 

Jeffco Schools Board of Education 

of her staff and visited classrooms. 

"I got the letter yesterday and 

I thought for sure it was a 'no', 

because great news never comes by 

letter," said White. "When I read the 

first line of 'I am pleased to inform 

you...' I looked at the dollar amount 

and got excited." 

White made the announcement 

over the school's PA system. 

"Students were cheering and excited," 

said White. "They have been 

giving me advice on how to use the 

money, like a new playground and 

new bikes." 

White said she will work with 

staff to decide how to use the funds, 

but they are leaning towards technology, 

professional development 

and additional literacy resources. 

Services staff provides the 

articles, photos and graphics in 

an effort to keep the community 

informed with news about Jeffco 

Schools. Citizen comments 

about the publication are 

welcome. Mile High Newspapers 

provides layout, sells 

advertisements, prints and 

distributes the publication at no 

cost to the school district. 

To contact 

Communications Services: 

Jeffco Public Schools 

1829 Denver West Drive, #27 

Golden, CO 80401 

303-982-6808 

303-982-6816 Fax 

www.jeffcopublicschools.org 

e-mail: 

commsvcs@jeffco.k12.co.us 

To advertise in the JSQ, 

please contact 

Mile High Newspapers: 

303-279-5541 

Photographer: 

Lorie Hirose 

Jeffco Schools 

Dave Thomas, President Jane Barnes, First Vice President Laura Boggs, Second Vice President Paula Noonan, Treasurer Robin Johnson, Secretary 

www.jeffcopublicschools.org 3 

February 2011

Teaching students and staff with the power of passion 

Susie Van Scoyk always wanted 

to be an educator. When she was 

little she made her younger brother 

and his neighborhood friends play 

school. 

“I would make them sit in rows 

and I would teach them,” Van Scoyk 

said with a smile. “Education has 

always been my passion.” 

Now, Alameda High School is the 

recipient of that passion. Van Scoyk 

is the school’s new principal. But 

she is also a familiar face. Before 

coming to Alameda this year, she 

was principal at nearby Patterson 

International for ten years. 

Van Scoyk said being a part of the 

community is important. “I think it 

was an advantage. The students know 

my expectations and they know me, 

so they’re not surprised.” 

Van Scoyk has high expectations 

and a firm belief in the abilities 

of her students. She brought the 

International Baccalaureate Primary 

Years Programme to Patterson 

International four years ago. Now, 

she is shepherding the first IB diploma 

class to graduation at Alameda 

this year. 

“We really want to lift up the 

notion that students can,” she said. 

“I don’t think they always come to 

school feeling like they can, so that’s 

really our vision for the future.” 

She believes IB is a perfect fit for 

the Alameda community. 

“The program fits because it is 

about global learning. We have some 

13 different languages spoken here 

at Alameda. IB is really about lifting 

up one’s own culture and one’s own 

identity and figuring out how that 

fits into the world.” 

It took a while for Van Scoyk to 

figure out being a principal would 

end up being a perfect fit for her. 

She loved her days teaching fifth and 

sixth grade at Pennington Elementary 

School. 

“I was a reluctant principal,” she 

admitted. “But becoming a principal 

was actually a huge surprise and a 

delight for me.” 

She said that’s because she still 

gets to teach. “I love watching the 

light bulbs go on, and the nice thing 

about being a principal is that you 

have that go on for students, but 

you have that go on for teachers as 

well. And when you teach an adult, 

you can change the lives of many 

students.” 

Van Scoyk is passionate about 

Alameda High School Principal Susie Van Scoyk 

pushing her students to reach their 

potential. She said at a recent meeting, 

“When I told them that I believed 

in them, I believed in their intellect 

and their capacity, there were students 

who cried. I was floored. So 

that’s what drives me, I do believe in 

them, and what they are able to do.” 

Fresh and flavorful 

The rising cost of food is having an impact on school lunches 

across the nation, including those served at Jeffco schools. 

“Jeffco’s school lunches are federally funded and the current 

lunch program is no longer able to absorb increased costs,” 

said Linda Stoll, executive director of Food and Nutrition 

Services. 

The district has raised the price of school breakfasts and 

lunches; lunches now cost 50 cents more and breakfast is 25 

cents higher. District parents were asked through a survey if 

they would support an increase in prices and the majority (80 

percent) said they would. 

The price increase will allow Jeffco kitchens to use more 

fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole grain breads. Many 

of the entrees that students enjoy will no longer be “heat and 

serve” items, but will be made from scratch in school cafeterias. 

In addition, all canned vegetables have been replaced with 

frozen or fresh when it is available and affordable. 

Jeffco Public Schools Service Directory 

Main Switchboard.................................303-982-6500 

Assessment............................................303-982-6565 

Athletics/Activities................................303-982-6634 

Benefits Office (medical, dental, 

vision insurance, retirement)..............303-982-6527 

Boundaries/Demographics 

(property management)......................303-982-2339 

Building/Facility Use (community 

use of school facilities)..........................303-982-6500 

Communications Services.....................303-982-6808 

Education Center (main switchboard)...303-982-6500 

Employee Records.................................303-982-6519 

Employee Relations...............................303-982-6544 

Employment Services............................303-982-6500 

Food and Nutrition Services..................303-982-6748 

Home School Option Program..............303-982-6321 

Human Resources..................................303-982-6515 

Jeffco Public Schools Hotline...............303-982-6600 

Department for Learning and 

Educational Achievement...................303-982-6994 

Payroll Department................................303-982-6780 

Registrar................................................303-982-6994 

Security (24-Hour)................................303-232-8688 

Student Records.....................................303-982-6715 

Substitute Office....................................303-982-6523 

Superintendent.......................................303-982-6800 

Transportation Terminals: 

Central...................................................303-982-2324 

North......................................................303-982-1998 

South......................................................303-982-9057 

West.......................................................303-982-5215 

Schools are listed in the business white pages of 

the Qwest phone book under Schools, Public, 

Jefferson County. For information, contact 

Communications Services at 303-982-6808, or visit 

the website at www.jeffcopublicschools.org. 


4 


Crossing the finish line 

Amanda Hodges was 18, 

pregnant and not living at 

home. She struggled with 

school and had dropped out once 

before. She continued to struggle, 

faced a few hardships and was told 

she was never going to finish. So, 

she quit. 

Still, she wanted to graduate and 

make a better life for her daughter; 

she needed help and didn’t know 

where to get it. 

Two years later, through a friend’s 

recommendation, she came to 

Jeffco for help. With the assistance 

of Jeffco’s Dropout Prevention and 

Recovery Department, Hodges 

received her diploma from McLain 

Community High School in October. 

She currently works at an assisted 

living center and wants to go to college 

to become a certified nursing 

assistant. 

“I thought I was never going to 

Jeffco’s Dropout Prevention and Recovery Department from left to right: Dave Kollar, Jason 

Firestone and Alyssa Gill. 

make it,” said Hodges. “Dropout 

prevention helped me know I can 

finish. They stuck by me through it 

all and now I will walk (graduate) 

in May. I did it and it’s a very big 

achievement for me. It showed me I 

can do anything.” 

The Dropout Prevention and 

Recovery Department is determined 

to work with students, like Hodges, 

to keep them in school or bring them 

back. Director Dave Kollar and his 

team, manager Jason Firestone and 

technician Alyssa Gill, know the 

choices that students make — especially 

the decision to stay in school 

and graduate — can impact the rest 

of their lives. 

“It is our job to help keep kids on 

a pathway toward graduation and if 

we get one kid to graduate, it’s worth 

the effort,” said Kollar. “If they’ve 

had a hiccup along the way, we help 

them get back in a place that’s going 

to help them be successful.” 

Since its inception three years ago, 

the department has helped cut the 

dropout rate and the number of dropouts 

in half. To re-engage students, 

the team works closely with schools 

and outside resources. They focus 

on early warning signs and interventions 

and help students discover 

alternatives such as online classes, 

night school, competency-based programs, 

vocational and career courses, 

and programs for teen parents. 

“Jeffco is such a great place to be 

doing this kind of work,” said Kollar. 

“There is a real desire not to see kids 

at-risk and in that situation.” 

Part of the effort includes reaching 

out to students in their environment. 

“We’ve tried a lot of things,” said 

Gill. “Everything from house visits 

to parades, community resource 

fairs, job fairs, library meet and 

greets, postcards, and advertisements 

at local movie theatres. You 

know going into this you have to try 

doing things out of the box.” 

But, if being out of the box means 

getting kids back on track, the team 

will do whatever it takes. 

“We’re here to help,” said 

Firestone. “It doesn’t matter when 

or how, we’ll always figure out a 

way to have students finish.” 



International Baccalaureate continuum offers 

unique opportunity in Alameda area 

Sixth-graders at Patterson 

International build models 

of roller coasters and race 

marbles down the tracks. Amid the 

cheering, they are learning physics: 

momentum, inertia, kinetic energy 

and acceleration. It is just one 

of the hands on lessons modeled 

on the International Baccalaureate 

(IB) program. 

For four years now, Patterson 

International, a neighborhood 

school in the Alameda area, has 

been authorized in the International 

Baccalaureate Primary Years 

Programme. Last spring, Alameda 

High School received authorization 

for an IB diploma program. 

And in October, the last 

piece of the continuum came into 

place, when O’Connell Middle 

School was authorized in the IB 

Middle Years Programme. Now 

the Alameda area offers the only 

IB continuum in Jeffco and one 

of only 21 continuums in North 

America, where students can be 

immersed in the IB program from 

kindergarten to 12th grade. 

“As an area, we support the 

IB mission,” said Alameda area 

Community Superintendent Peg 

Kastberg. “We embrace diversity, 

international mindedness, and we 

know this sequence of programs 

will help us maintain a clear focus 

on teaching and learning.” 

“We live in a global world,” said 

Patterson Principal Jabin Cook. 

“And for students in this connected 

world, IB helps create a 

foundation.” 

O’Connell Middle School and 

Alameda build on that foundation. 

O’Connell Principal Pati 

Montgomery said the diverse 

demographics of the neighborhood 

make the IB program that 

much more relevant. 

“We have students from 26 different 

countries,” said Montgomery. 

“When we are talking about events 

around the world, that has a personal 

meaning for our students, 

because flooding around the world 

may directly impact your classmates’ 

uncle. IB gives our students 

that deeper perspective of 

the world.” 

The IB continuum couples rigor 

and high academic expectations 

with an emphasis on cultural 

understanding. Alameda Principal 

Susie Van Scoyk explained, “The 

IB mission is about understanding. 

Let’s listen to each other; let’s 

appreciate each other. We don’t 

have to agree, that’s ok, but we 

need to respect each other and 

respect each other’s differences. 

And if we can truly do that, think 

where we can be.” 

Patterson International IB students Mariah Atencio, Raven Eonine, Hannah Smith and Selena Florez, 

show off the rollercoaster they built. 

Leaping to the top of the state 

As the last rotation of the final 

event came to a close at the 5A state 

gymnastics meet, Bear Creek High 

School coach Michelle Faust held 

her breath. 

“I just did back flips inside, when I 

knew it was a reality,” she said. 

Bear Creek scored 183.3750 points 

to clench the state title. Cherry Creek 

High School came in second. Jeffco’s 

Arvada West and Green Mountain 

high schools finished ninth and eleventh 

respectively. 

Bear Creek senior Brittany 

Roberts, who placed first in the floor 

exercise, said the team knew they 

had a chance at the state title. 

“We had an idea going into it,” 

Roberts said. “But I think our angle 

was just go in and have fun and do 

what we do.” 

It also helped that Roberts and 

her teammates talked Danni Thenell 

into returning for her senior season. 

Thenell took first in the uneven bars 

and balance beam as well as the allaround 

title. And she remembered 

why she loved gymnastics. 

“I like the fact that it frees my 

mind and nothing else in the world 

matters when I’m doing it,” Thenell 

said. 

“It’s a unique sport,” agreed coach 

Faust. “The confidence and the structure 

that gymnastics has as a sport, 

really carries over for the rest of their 

lives. It’s such a powerful and graceful 

sport and something that needs to 

be kept in high schools.” 

Former Bear Creek coach Pat 

Druggan brought women’s gymnastics 

to Jeffco back in 1963. She was 

on hand to watch the Bears take 

state. 

“It’s in my blood,” she said. 

There is a legacy of gymnastics 

tradition at Bear Creek. Over the 

years, a former Bear Creek gymnast 

has always coached the team. 

Amy McDonnell led the team for 22 

years, before passing the position on 

to Faust. 

“When the kids walk in that first 

day of practice to the time they leave, 

they improve not just physically, but 

emotionally, they’re just better, stronger 

people," McDonnell said. 

Under McDonnell, Bear Creek had 

three state titles. This is Faust’s first 

championship. 

Bear Creek Principal Mary Lauer 

summed it up, “For me it’s about 

giving kids goals and dreams and the 

ability to work together.” 

Bear Creek Principal Mary Lauer and the State 5A Champion Gymnastics team 


6 


Top of the class in food safety 

The cafeteria at Bell Middle 

School is bustling. Annette 

Hansen, the school’s cafeteria 

manager, and her staff are 

preparing the day’s lunch. Suited 

up with aprons, gloves and hairnets, 

they wash, cook and prep the food. 

They also ready Charlie. 

The Charlie Plate, as it is affectionately 

known, is prepared every 

day in every Jeffco school. It is 

a sampling of everything that is 

offered on the menu. Once it is 

made, it is dated and refrigerated. 

“It’s very important,” stressed 

Hansen. “If a student says they got 

sick at school, then we can take 

what’s on the plate, test the food and 

check for any food borne illness.” 

Linda Stoll, executive director of 

Food and Nutrition Services says no 

major illnesses have been reported 

in Jeffco over the past 20 years. 

The Charlie Plate is just one of the 

practices the district has to ensure 

food is safe. Cafeteria managers, 

including Hansen, say that in Jeffco, 

the risk of food contamination is 

extremely small. 

“We follow strict rules and regulations,” 

she said. “We take so many 

precautions from what we wear, to 

cleaning and cooking that parents 

have nothing to worry about. We are 

responsible for their children and 

we take that very seriously.” 

Jeffco Public Schools follows all 

Hazard Analysis Critical Control 

Point (HACCP) guidelines mandated 

by the Child Nutrition and WIC 

Reauthorization Act. It requires all 

schools to have an HACCP Plan, 

Bell Middle School kitchen manager Annette Hansen shows off the Charlie Plate 

on-going training in food safety and 

continuous documentation of the 

handling of food. 

“We track the food chain,” said 

Stoll. “From the time we buy it 

from the vendor to when we serve 

it, we have standard operating procedures 

for every single step of the 

process.” 

A major component of that process 

is temperature monitoring. Cafeteria 

staff record food temperatures when 

the food is received, stored, cooked, 

and served and maintain the required 

temperature from when the first student 

enters the lunch line to when 

the last student leaves. 

“When we constantly check temperatures, 

it can help prevent or 

indicate when there is a problem,” 

said Stoll. 

Though preparing the Charlie 

Plate, cleaning and sanitizing, and 

monitoring temperatures are all critical 

to food safety, the most important 

part according to Stoll is the 

staff behind the serving line. 

Kitchen staff members participate 

in on-going training and every two 

years are tested and issued food handler 

cards by the Jefferson County 

Health Department. And even with 

twice-yearly county health department 

inspections, school district site 

supervisors complete two additional 

in-house inspections per school, 

which in many cases, are about four 

a year, two more than what is federally 

required. 

“The staff knows the conditions 

of their kitchen,” said Stoll. “They 

want to provide students with a 

good, nutritious meal and it’s got to 

be safe. It’s the goal for everyone 

and it will be a priority — always.” 

Pilot program ties 

teacher pay to results 

Across the nation, communities 

are asking for schools to be more 

accountable. In Jeffco, the district is 

responding to the public demand for 

more accountability by rewarding 

educators for achieving results with 

their students. 

Last September, the district 

received more than $30 million from 

the federal Teacher Incentive Fund, 

the largest grant ever received by 

Jeffco Public Schools. These funds 

will be used to conduct a five-year 

strategic compensation pilot project 

in up to 20 high-needs elementary 

and middle schools. (At press time, 

participating schools had not yet 

been identified.) 

The grant means Jeffco Public 

Schools will be at the forefront of 

developing new ways to compensate 

educators here and across the 

nation. The district will be testing 

the impact of strategic compensation 

on increasing student achievement, 

and attracting, retaining and 

rewarding top educators. 

Jeffco strategic compensation 

was developed after three years of 

research on best practices. The district, 

Jefferson County Education 

Association and Jefferson County 

Administrators Association collaborated 

from the onset to develop 

the plan. A steering committee that 

included administrators, teachers, 

school board members, parents and 

community leaders provided input 

and guidance. 

The strategic compensation plan 

rewards what Jeffco values – exemplary 

performance and teamwork 

among educators. Instead of paying 

teachers solely based on years 

of experience and more education, 

they will be rewarded for outstanding 

performance. 

This pilot project is a significant 

culture shift. Teacher stipends will 

be directly tied to results with students 

and successful evaluations. 

The highest paid teachers will be 

top performers who serve as master 

and mentor teachers, work a longer 

school year and provide support 

to help their peers become better 

teachers. 

Licensed staff in pilot schools will 

be compensated for demonstrating 

effectiveness by: 

• Contributing to team and school 

goals for student academic growth 

as indicated by state tests and other 

valid, reliable measures. 

• Earning successful evaluations 

from administrators and peers. Each 

teacher in pilot schools will have 

four to six observations and be 

evaluated annually. 

• Taking on additional leadership 

responsibilities such as mentoring 

other teachers. 

This grant award is particularly 

timely because of the new state 

accreditation law that rates schools 

and districts in part by how much 

students learn from year to year. 

Jeffco’s strategic compensation 

also aligns with the state law that 

goes into effect in 2014, which 

requires that teachers and principals 

be evaluated more frequently, and 

that at least half of their evaluations 

be based on how much students 

learn from year to year. 

For information, visit: www. 

JeffcoStrategicCompensation.org. 



Highlights from Jeffco Public Schools Annual Report 

Each year an Annual Report is published 

by Jeffco Public Schools to provide an 

overview of the work completed during 

the previous school year and to report on 

those areas required by law. The 2009-10 

Annual Report is available on the district’s 

website at www.jeffcopublicschools.org 

as well as by request for a printed version. 

Call Communications Services to request 

a copy at 303-982-6808. Here are some 

highlights of what is in the report. 

Partnership Builds Place for 

Boys and Girls 

Together, these agencies rallied the community 

to raise funds and open the doors 

to the county’s first Boys & Girls Club. 

Civic Responsibility 

Highlights 

Empty Bowls, an annual event sponsored 

by students from Arvada Middle 

School, North Arvada Middle School, 

Russell, Foster, Hackberry Hill, Thomson, 

Swanson, Peck, Lawrence, Fitzmorris and 

Secrest Elementary schools, raised $5,000 

for the Arvada Food Bank. 

Jeffco Schools and Programs 

are Progressive 

The Jeffco community wants an educated 

workforce that can compete in the 

21st Century. In response, the district 

has installed SMART Boards and video 

and computer upgrades in many classrooms. 

The district also partnered with 

Google and Blackboard to create new 

collaboration tools that help students learn 

new technologies. The district was ranked 

No.1 by the Center for Digital Education 

"for creative and innovative accomplishments…in 

support of 21st century education.” 

Award-Winning Schools 

Stein Elementary School was recognized 

as a Title I “Distinguished School of the 

Year” by the Colorado Department of 

Education. Stein, a high-poverty school, 

increased the percentage of students eligible 

for free and reduced lunch that are 

at or above the proficient level on reading 

and math CSAP from 80.1 percent in 

2008 to 88.9 percent in 2009. 

The 100 or so kids who fill the gym 

of the Boys & Girls Club at O’Connell 

Middle School are a loud and boisterous 

bunch. They are, after all, in a place 

where they can be kids. The club, which 

serves one of Lakewood’s most economically 

challenged areas, was made possible 

through a partnership between Boys 

& Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Jeffco 

Public Schools and community leaders 

including District Attorney Scott Storey, 

Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy, Jefferson 

County Commissioner Kathy Hartman, 

Lakewood Police Chief Kevin Paletta, 

Lakewood City Councilwoman Sue King 

and Fire Chief Doug McBee. 

Drake Middle School social studies students 

received a $50,000 grant for an 

educational trip to Washington, D.C. as a 

result of their work with senior citizens. 

Students adopted Mountain Vista Nursing 

Home, volunteering their time and raising 

nearly $5,000 for the home. 


8 


Foundation thanks retiring members, 

welcomes new community volunteers 

With the start of the New Year, The Jefferson Foundation 

said good-bye to retiring board members and welcomed 

new community volunteers to its Board of Directors. 

“Serving on our Board of Directors is at least a threeyear 

commitment of time and a lot of volunteer energy,” 

said Katie Tiernan, executive director of The Jefferson 

Foundation. “We are thankful to have community leaders 

who are passionate and supportive of our mission 

to help Jeffco Public Schools prepare all students for a 

successful future.” 

Retiring Board Members include Stan Dempsey, Jr. 

and Jeff Lamontagne. 

New community members joining the Foundation’s 

Board include: 

Melinda Delmonico 

As Chairman, President and CEO at Gibson Arnold & 

Associates, Inc., Delmonico works closely with hiring 

managers and partners in the legal community for her 

clients. 

Delmonico is an associate member of the Denver/ 

Colorado Bar Association, the National Association of 

Placement Professionals (NAPPS), and the national and 

local (Denver, Houston and Los Angeles) chapters of 

organizations for lawyers, paralegals, support staff, administrators, 

litigation support and electronic discovery. 

She holds an undergraduate degree in speech communication, 

with a minor in journalism, from Texas 

A&M University. She and her husband, Scott, are proud 

parents of three Jeffco schools students. 

Kristin Wimbish 

A graduate of Jeffco’s Lakewood High School, 

Wimbish earned her bachelor's degree in communications 

at California Lutheran University and a master's in 

journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. 

After several years in healthcare communications, 

Wimbish worked in university advancement and taught 

Melinda Delmonico 

Kristin Wimbish 

graphic design at Colorado Christian University. 

Following the birth of her first son in 2001, Wimbish 

started her own business as a freelance designer and 

writer. She is an active member of the University of 

Colorado Young Alumni Association and volunteers her 

time with the Boy Scouts of America. Wimbish and husband, 

Tim, are active parents in Golden. 

About The Jefferson Foundation 

The Jefferson Foundation is an independent, private 

501c3 education foundation supporting Jeffco Public 

Schools in preparing all students for a successful future. 

The Jefferson Foundation engages community support 

and develops important resources for schools, students 

and families, including more than $9 million in support 

to schools and local community-based organizations 

since 1983. The Jefferson Foundation was named nonprofit 

of the year by the West Chamber Serving Jefferson 

County in 2009 and was a finalist for the Colorado Ethics 

in Business Good Samaritan Award in 2010. For more 

information, please visit www.jeffersonfoundation.org. 

This article submitted by The Jefferson Foundation 

FU N 

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Money Smarts for Kids. Money Skills for Life. 

Helping homeless students 

Did you know that there are more than 2,400 homeless 

children in Jefferson County? Members of Jeffco 

Schools’ Information Technology Services Desk have 

seen the numbers and that’s why they “passed the 

hat” for The Jefferson Foundation’s Homeless Services 

Fund. 

“Since we don’t get the opportunity to work directly 

with students, we wanted to connect with those 

who could use a hand,” said Jeffco employee Billie 

Wolfe. “We found out about The Jefferson Foundation’s 

Homeless Services Fund and pooled our money to 

buy grocery store gift certificates. It was very easy to 

write a check for the funds collected and get it to the 

Foundation.” 

Experts estimate that approximately 80 percent of all 

homeless residents of Jefferson County are children. The 

district’s Homeless Services department has provided 

services to 2,323 students in the current school year, 

with another semester still to come. 

“These children are the hidden face of homelessness,” 

said Sheree Conyers, homeless liaison for Jeffco 

Schools. ”They come to schools during the day, but 

in the evening their families are sleeping in cars, on 

friends’ couches, or in motels and shelters.” 

“We started the fund with a seed grant of $2,000, 

hoping that community members and others would 

contribute, as well,” said Katie Tiernan, executive director 

of The Jefferson Foundation. “Donations like this 

allow the Homeless Services department to meet the 

immediate needs of struggling families—food, shelter, 

transportation, medical care—and lessen the impacts of 

homelessness on children.” 

Members of the IT Service Desk and Customer Learning (L to R): 

Back Row: Rick Rogers, John Brosseau, Luther Augenstein, Matt 

Maske. Middle Row: Jean Tweed, Becky Jo Bigsby, Mary Marosy, 

Roberta Morris, Kim Witters, Alice Graves, Nancy McCanless, Billie 

Wolfe, Kathe Meineke. Front Row: Jefferson Foundation Executive 

Director Katie Tiernan, Laura Schreiber, Karen Hurlbert, Jeanne 

Swartwood, Jeffco Public Schools Homeless Services Coordinator 

Sheree Conyers 

Tiernan noted an increase in the number of homeless 

students being served this year by the Foundation’s 

Serving Kids clothing project. 

To learn more about the Homeless Services Fund or 

the Serving Kids clothing project, or to make a donation 

to The Jefferson Foundation, please visit www.jeffersonfoundation.org 

or call 303-982-2210. 

This article submitted by The Jefferson Foundation 

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February 2011 

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Future Ad

Jennifer Blair-Cockrum and her sons, second-grader Jackson and fifth-grader Dillon, use a talking keyboard and an MP3 player designed to 

help dyslexic students. 

Mom makes a difference 

After Jeffco mom Jennifer Blair- 

Cockrum watched her sons struggle 

with dyslexia, she knew she could 

make a difference in their school. 

Fairmount Elementary in Golden 

already had great teachers and 

great support, but they were missing 

important training on how to 

spot the signs of a child struggling 

with dyslexia. 

“I approached the principal and 

asked him, if I found the money 

could we bring in training for 

teachers,” said Blair-Cockrum. “He 

agreed and that was a huge step in 

our great partnership.” 

Blair-Cockrum wrote and won 

grants totaling nearly $22,000 

to help bring in instructors from 

Denver’s Dyslexia Center for the 

sake of her sons and other students. 

The motivated mom got the PTA 

involved and the class went over so 

well with staff, the group scheduled 

a second training. The school also 

bought assistive technology like 

talking keyboards, specialized MP3 

players and audio books with the 

grant money. 

The training helped school staff, 

but also opened up a dialogue 

between parents. “We now have 

a resource group for parents with 

kids who have learning struggles,” 

said Blair-Cockrum. “When parents 

work together it’s amazing 

how powerful that is.” 

Principal Brady Stroup said the 

lessons were invaluable for his 

teachers. 

“Our teachers really appreciated 

the training because now they 

understand the students’ needs 

more than before,” said Stroup. 

“We don’t always know why a student 

is struggling with reading and 

these skills help us narrow it down 

and answer why a student is having 

a hard time with reading.” 

According to Blair-Cockrum, 

children with dyslexia should know 

that even though they have a learning 

difference, they can succeed but 

schools have to help them learn 

the way they learn best. 

“That’s why I push for the information 

and awareness to get out 

there,” she said. “The more all of 

us know about it, the more it will 

help our kids.” 

Fairmount’s PTA now funds a 

grant writing committee made up 

of parent volunteers to encourage 

parents to become part of the solution. 

“Take those emotions and 

energy you have for your child 

and turn them into actions – turn 

it in to something positive and be 

a catalyst for change,” said Blair- 

Cockrum. 

The Recording for the Blind & 

Dyslexic Mountain & Plains Region 

(RFBD) paid for and funded the 

filming of the staff training to make 

it available to the public. For more 

information, call the RFBD at 303- 

757-0787. 

This story was also featured on 

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10 


Spotlight: Dave Welsh and 

Ben Wysocki of the Fray 

They’re members of one of 

music’s major players and Denver’s 

most recognizable bands, the Fray. 

Lead guitarist Dave Welsh and 

drummer Ben Wysocki graduated 

from Ralston Valley High School 

in 2003 and joined the band that 

same year. Since then, they’ve 

recorded two chart-topping albums 

and will open at Invesco Field this 

spring for one of the biggest rock 

groups in the world. The band’s 

debut album, “How to Save a Life” 

reached double-platinum in the U.S. 

and Billboard Music declared it the 

best-selling digital album of all time. 

They’ve won awards from Billboard 

Music and earned several Grammy 

nominations. 

Welsh and Wysocki took a “beat” 

from writing and performing to talk 

about their time in Jeffco Public 

Schools. 

What is your favorite memory 

of school? 

Welsh: I had a wonderful teacher, 

When teacher Kristin Kipp goes 

to class, she puts on her headset and 

sits down in front of her computer. 

Kipp is a Language Arts teacher 

at Jeffco’s 21st Century Virtual 

Academy, and Colorado’s newly 

named Online Teacher of the Year. 

“She doesn’t have to be there 

in person to show students that 

she really cares about them,” said 

Virtual Academy Principal Judy 

Bauernschmidt. “She shows caring 

through her communication. She 

lives to engage her students with 

technology and they love it.” 

“Ms. Kipp really makes an effort 

to be accessible,” agreed Virtual 

Academy senior Jillian Conrad. “She 

bridges the gap between the student 

and teacher relationship. Sometimes 

The Fray’s lead guitarist, Dave Welsh 

A virtual standout 

Mr. Litzau, who taught a frustratingly 

difficult but rewarding AP 

(advanced placement) U.S. history 

class my junior year. The memory 

of that class has stayed with me. 

From a buddy plucking a mouth 

harp in the back of the room, to days 

when I’m talking to her, her attitude 

is more like a friend. She’s willing 

to help you work out ideas and make 

exceptions if you need them.” 

Kipp said online teaching gives 

her a variety of tools to reach students. 

“It’s amazing how much more 

deeply I’m connected with every 

one of my kids because I’m working 

with all of them one-on-one,” she 

said. “I’m e-mailing, I’m calling, 

and I’m texting with every single 

one of those kids. In some ways, 

they share their stories with me even 

more deeply because of the online 

environment. It’s amazing how much 

I get to know my students and how 

much I love them even though I’ve 

never met them face-to-face.” 

That one-on-one attention allows 

Jeffco’s Virtual Academy teacher Kristin Kipp was named Colorado’s Online Teacher of the Year. 

The Fray’s drummer, Ben Wysocki 

in the library spent studying for the 

next test. 

Wysocki: I've got many great memories. 

Some of my best friends now, 

I knew or met in high school and 

we shared some pretty awesome 

times like getting speeding tickets or 

Kipp to customize assignments to 

challenge and support her students. 

“I have kids who come to the Virtual 

Academy because they want to avoid 

dropping out, to elite athletes and 

gifted and talented kids who come 

because they need the flexibility 

of online learning. So this format 

reaches all of them with what they 

need.” 

Kipp’s ability to reach all of her 

students is one reason the Colorado 

Department of Education named her 

the state’s 2010 Online Secondary 

Teacher of the Year. In addition to 

teaching, Kipp is also an instructional 

leader for her fellow teachers. 

She’s worked in traditional classrooms 

teaching English in eighth 

through 12th grades in Jeffco, before 

joining the Virtual Academy three 

years ago. 

“The biggest difference is being 

able to communicate empathy, and 

caring and compassion in writing,” 

she said. “The kids need to know 

that you care about them and you 

want them to succeed even though 

you are not face-to-face.” 

Jeffco’s 21st Century Virtual 

Academy is a tuition-free high 

school for students age 14 to 20. 

The school’s rigorous curriculum is 

the same as other Jeffco high schools 

and is aligned with state standards. 

Kipp said the Virtual Academy 

gives students one more option. “It’s 

so rewarding to see them succeed 

where maybe they wouldn’t have if 

the online Virtual Academy didn’t 

exist.” 

cramming as much social 

activity into our very short 

off-campus lunch break. 

How did your education 

prepare you for 

your career? 

Welsh: Though the two can 

appear antithetical at times, I've 

always had a keen interest in academia. 

If nothing else, it introduced 

me to important literature and gave 

me the bedrock to a liberal approach 

on life. The music world can be 

awfully one dimensional at times. 

Wysocki: Well seeing as I took the 

easy, somewhat slacker approach to 

my senior year, while everyone else 

was preparing for college, I pretty 

much took all art electives. So, my 

senior year was pretty much a mini 

one-year art school with jewelry, 

painting, ceramics, guitar, history of 

rock music. That definitely got the 

creative juices flowing. 

You two joined the band in 

high school, how did you 

balance starting your career 

with school? 

Welsh: The dichotomy of playing 

music while going through the 

woes of high school was this: each 

occupied a different headspace. One 

could be a release from the other. 

However, the balance can easily be 

off-kilter. It's just more fun to play 

music in someone's basement than 

cram for a final, you know? 

Wysocki: Well at that time it hadn't 

really become a career yet. It was a 

hobby really — a hobby that took 

up a lot of our time. In all honesty, 

I probably did a pretty lousy job 

balancing that hobby with my school 

work. You'd have to ask my mom 

though she most likely remembers 

better than I do. I mean come on, 

who really wants to do home work 

when they could go make music? 

What is it like to be part of a 

band that has topped charts 

and received numerous 

awards and nominations? 

Welsh: To those who say it doesn't 

change you, it does. Our worlds were 

quite small when we left Denver 

to record in Indiana six years ago. 

But with a larger worldview comes 

larger responsibility. Years later, we 

still attempt a semblance to normal 

lives, though it isn't always possible 

or desirable. 

Wysocki: It’s exciting and honoring 

and challenging, but mostly surreal. 

What advice would you give 

to Jeffco students pursuing 

their own dreams? 

Welsh: There is more than enough 

money to be made but likely not 

enough people doing what they love. 

A musician is, by nature, a fickle and 

wobbly career path. But, as it stands 

now, I still love it and I'll do it until 

I can't, or until my back gives out. 

Either, I suppose. 

Wysocki: Find what it is you love 

and are good at. Do that thing and 

pursue it with everything in you. 

Find a way to get paid for it. 

Any inside information about 

upcoming concerts, albums, 

etc. you can tell us about? 

Welsh: We are approaching the eleventh 

hour now. The next few months 

will be spent in our studio, finalizing 

bits and pieces for the upcoming 

recording to take place in March or 

April. I'm sure we'll have a smattering 

of appearances and shows before 

the record is released, hopefully in 

the fall of this year. 

Wysocki: We're currently hard at 

work writing our next record, which 

we'll record this spring. We've got a 

lot of good stuff we're pretty excited 

about and pumped to see what happens 

on this third record. Oh yeah, 

and we're opening for U2 on May 21 

at Invesco Field. 



Jeffco school becomes state model 

A grant from the Colorado Department 

of Education (CDE) to support Mortensen 

Elementary School’s autism program 

doesn’t carry a big dollar value, but the 

support and professional development that 

comes with the package is priceless. 

“The monetary award from the grant is 

$1,000 for supplies and materials,” said 

Mortensen Principal Karla Hankins. “What 

we're most excited about is the support 

and the professional development provided 

by a CDE autism coach over the next two 

years.” 

An on-site autism coach will visit 

Mortensen once a week to instruct teachers, 

study student schedules, offer problemsolving 

techniques and advice on how to use 

special education staff, plus much more. 

“Our goal is to perform at the highest 

levels of the quality indicators for an autism 

program,” said Hankins. “We will be a 

model site in the state, which means we can 

then welcome other schools and districts to 

observe and model our program into their 

own schools.” 

Mortensen’s Autism Spectrum Disorder 

(ASD) program is one of only eight model 

sites established in the state. Jeffco has 

three other schools with an ASD program, 

Edgewater Elementary, Green Mountain 

Elementary and Fremont Elementary. 

Mortensen Elementary special education teacher Sarah 

Handy works with fourth-grader Victoria Einspahr 

Jeffco parent shares a 

slice of history 

When Arvada resident Jeff Hart was in 

elementary school, he never imagined he 

would end up in history books, but that’s 

exactly where Hart has landed. 

As the lead driller on the recent rescue 

of 33 Chilean miners trapped miles below 

the earth, Hart found himself using the 

skills he learned early on in school. 

Hart's son, Dylan, attends Arvada's 

Vanderhoof Elementary School, where 

Vanderhoof parent Jeff Hart, poses with son Dylan 

and his classmates. 

students and staff organized an assembly 

to honor the hero of their community. 

"It's very important to visit schools," 

said Hart. "When they hear stories like 

mine it gives students ideas for their future 

paths." 

As the wide-eyed students watched Hart 

speak at the podium about his experience 

a world away, he shared why he believes 

school is very important to a successful 

future. "Math is very important," he said. 

"We used a lot of math to know exactly 

where to drill to reach the miners." 

Beyond words 

When David Pearman arrived at 

Little Elementary School last spring, 

he didn’t speak a word of English. 

He just moved from Ethiopia and 

only spoke the native language of 

his country, Amharic. On the second 

day of school while other students in 

his class were using laptop computers, 

David sat in silence. 

That’s when Elaine Angelo walked 

in. As the school’s English as a second 

language (ESL) tutor, Angelo 

was called in to try and communicate 

with David and find out why 

he wouldn’t touch the laptop. She 

asked him if he had a computer and 

the only response he gave her was, 

“teacher”. Through her understanding 

of other cultures and customs, 

Angelo concluded that in David’s 

native country, the teacher was probably 

the only one who had a computer 

and student use was limited. 

Angelo pulled up images of African 

animals on the computer and David 

immediately connected with his 

teacher and the laptop. 

Understanding where students, like 

David, come from is one of the many 

ways that Angelo connects with and 

helps her students succeed. Today, 

David is an active learner. He writes 

sentences, asks questions and speaks 

clearly — all with a big smile. 

“You have to give kids the opportunity 

to talk because language will 

empower them,” said Angelo. “They 

have to know they can challenge difficulties 

and have access to resources 

so they too can fulfill their dreams. 

For no reason should language 

become an obstacle to that.” 

Jeffco has over 5,000 English 

learner (EL) students who speak 

more than 90 identifiable languages. 

In Angelo’s classes at Little and 

Zerger elementary schools, EL students 

have not reached proficiency in 

English and speak everything from 

English as a second language tutor Elaine Angelo and Little Elementary School student David 

Pearman 

Spanish and Russian to Albanian 

and Thai. Some of these students 

have immigrated from another country 

and do not speak English or were 

born in the United States, but the 

primary language spoken at home is 

not English. 

While the cultures, backgrounds 

and learning level of her students 

vary, Angelo never underestimates 

them. 

“I want to help level the playing 

field for kids and give them 

an environment where it’s safe to 

talk and safe to make mistakes, but 

encourage them to keep talking and 

naturally, the language will emerge,” 

she said. “I am here to invisibly 

shape their language because they 

are certainly capable of putting all 

the pieces together and I think sometimes 

when they take the risk, they 

surprise themselves.” 

Still, Angelo insists she has learned 

more from them. 

“I learn from their cultures and 

how they approach life,” she said. 

“I always try to get background 

information and find commonalities. 

I love getting to know their families, 

siblings and see in every aspect of 

their day that they are challenging 

themselves to participate, to comprehend, 

to overcome shyness and loss, 

and make friends. Through teaching 

them, my world has expanded.” 


12 


Your guide to summer fun! 

Camp is for Every Child 

by Peg L. Smith, CEO 

American Camp Association 

Watching my son after he returned 

from summer camp was the first 

hint that remarkable growth was 

underway. He was engaged, giving, 

and confident. Viewing the camp 

experience as a respite from the real 

world is somehow to miss the point. 

It is getting dirty, pulling harder so 

your team wins, finding the friend 

you always wished for, being yourself. 

It’s the time of your life and 

the promise of the future. 

As a parent, I always ask where 

children have their mental, personal, 

emotional, and physical needs 

nurtured? Where will they learn 

to get along with others, to take 

safe risks, to deal with conflict in 

a constructive way that encourages 

them to be creative, to explore and 

discover, to learn by actively doing, 

to try – to fail and try again? In 

the camp community, I find what 

I intuitively know as a parent – 

to be a positive, productive adult 

one needs the opportunity to truly 

experience childhood...that is how 

one grows. 

Camps enjoy the opportunity of 

working their magic with all of our 

children: the gifted athlete, the budding 

musician, the curious naturalist, 

the first-time camper, and the 

child with a disability. The idea that 

camp is for every child isn’t a pipe 

dream, it’s a reality. And one that 

parents and children celebrate and 

the American Camp Association 

supports by promoting safe, fun, 

and developmentally-appropriate 

experiences in the camp setting. 

The entire experience began with 

a single camp, The Gunnery Camp 

in 1861. As I write, I am buoyed by 

the recognition of just how dynamically 

this idea has taken flight. Over 

Reprinted by permission of the 

American Camp Association. ©2011 

American Camping Association, Inc. 

The American Camp Association® 

(ACA) works to preserve, promote, 

and enhance the camp experience for 

children and adults. ACA-Accredited® 

camp programs ensure that children 

are provided with a diversity of educational 

and developmentally challenging 

learning opportunities. There are 

2,400+ ACA-accredited camps that 

meet up to 300 health and safety 

standards. For more information, visit 

www.CampParents.org. 

11,000,000 children and adults will 

participate in camp upcoming summers. 

The numbers continue to 

grow, and this popular movement 

testifies loudly to the extraordinary 

benefits camp provides to our 

young people: responsibility, exploration, 

engagement, not to mention 

the spiritual dimension of the camp 

experience. 

Is camp quantifiable? Maybe 

not – but as a parent, I can only 

react with extreme pleasure as my 

son displayed those acts of kindness 

and generosity of spirit that 

follow so naturally from his time 

at camp. His chance to develop 

and grow was marked by constant 

changes – our camps meet those 

challenges every day of every session 

and that’s why doing what we 

do becomes so vital. 

Camp is about firsts: a first campfire 

outdoors, leading a pony, catching 

a frog, enjoying the evening stories, 

and being chosen to be part of 

a community that values each child 

and his or her special gifts. It’s 

about making memories and honoring 

the traditions of those who have 

come before. Children are alight 

with the idea that their acorn hangs 

from a rafter where their parents 

and aunts and uncles placed theirs 

so many years before. 

Throwing the doors wide open to 

allow generations of children and 

families to enjoy the value of experiential 

learning and growth, a path 

to self-esteem and independence is 

what camp is all about. From urban 

and rural settings to international 

camp opportunities, we revel in 

watching children discover their 

place in the world – making a difference 

is truly what makes the 

difference. 

A world class staff and 3 to 1 camper 

to counselor ratio means your child 

will be deeply and personally invested 

in as an athlete and child of God. Our 

first-rate sports instruction and mountain 

adventure programs, along with 

intentional relationships, memorable 

parties and fun activities create an 

experience that lasts a lifetime! 

10 overnight week-long sessions 

begin Jun 2 - Aug 10, ages 7-18, 

including Beyond Timberline, 

our teen backpacking program 

and SHIFT, our teen 

service/adventure program. 

Beth Kuwata 2011 Summer Camps 

at the University of Denver 

June 14-15: Mini Pioneer Volleyball Camp 

5-10 years old • 9:00am - 4:00pm (*lunch is not provided) 

July 11-14: Junior Pioneer Day Camp 

Grades 6-8 • 9:00am - 4:00pm (*lunch is not provided) 

July 17-18: Pioneer Skill Clinics Day 1 and Day 2 

Grades 7-12 • 8:00am - 12:00pm and 2:00pm - 6:00pm 

July 20-23: All Skills Overnight Development Camp Grades 7-12 

For information and to register, go to www.duvolleyballcamps.com or 

www.denverpioneers.com or contact Head Coach Beth Kuwata at beth.kuwata@du.edu 

Campers from ages 6-16 take part in 

fun activities that build confidence and 

community. Fully-licensed and led by 

highly qualified staff, youth enjoy: 

• Hiking • Camping 

• Fishing • Whitewater rafting 

• Kayaking • Mountain biking 

• Sports • Skateboarding 

• Rock climbing • And more 

45 minutes west of Denver near 

Bailey, CO. Part of the YMCA of 

Boulder Valley. 

What are your kids 

doing this summer? 

spend it with us at ymCa Camp 

santa maria overnight camp. 

FOR MORe inFO 

303-664-5455 • ymcacampsantamaria.org 

1-2 week sessions, Teen Adventure Trips, 

Teen Leadership, Mini-Camp (ages 6-8) 



Jeffco Public Schools upcoming concerts & performances 

Jeffco Public Schools offer a variety of student performances that are open to the public, 

most of which are free. Dates and times are subject to change, contact the school or 

check the website for confirmation at www.jeffcopublicschools.org. 

Date School Group Time/Cost 

Feb. 10 Green Mtn HS Jazz Band Concert 7 p.m. 

Feb. 11, 12, 

& 17-19 D’Evelyn HS Musical-TBA 7 p.m. 

Feb. 15 Arvada West HS Percussion Ens./Jazz Concert 7 p.m. 

Feb. 17-19 Golden HS “Fiddler on the Roof” Musical 7 p.m./2 p.m. Matinee 

Feb. 22 Arvada West HS Orchestra Concert 7 p.m. 

Feb. 22 Arvada HS Orchestra/Band Concert 7 p.m. 

Feb. 23 Arvada West HS Concert Band Concert 7 p.m. 

Feb. 23-26 Columbine HS Musical-“Bye, Bye, Birdie” 7 p.m./2 p.m. (26th) 

Feb. 24 Lakewood HS Empty Bowl Concert-Instrum. 7 p.m. 

Feb. 24 Wheat Ridge HS Choir Concert 7 p.m./$3 

Feb. 24 Dakota Ridge HS Choir Concert 7 p.m. 

Feb. 24 Ralston Valley HS Choir Concert 7 p.m./$3-$5 

Feb. 24 Evergreen HS Choir Concert 7:30 p.m. 

Feb. 24 Jefferson HS Choir Concert 6:30 p.m. 

Feb. 24-26 Conifer HS Musical –TBA 7 p.m. 

Mar. 2-5 Green Mtn HS Musical-TBA 7 p.m. 

Mar. 2-3 Arvada West HS Choir Concerts 7 p.m. 

Mar. 3 Chatfield HS Orchestra Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 3-5 Bear Creek HS Musical-TBA 7 p.m. 

Mar. 3-5 Standley Lake HS Musical –TBA 7 p.m. 

Mar. 5 Columbine HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 7, 9 Columbine HS Choir Concerts 7:30 p.m. 

Mar. 10 Bear Creek HS Band/Orch Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 10 D’Evelyn HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 11-12 Bear Creek HS Choir Concerts 7 p.m. 

Mar. 11-13 Evergreen HS Music-TBA 7:30 p.m. 

Mar. 14 Conifer HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 14 Lakewood HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 14 Chatfield HS Jazz Bands Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 15 Chatfield HS Choir Concert 7 p.m./$3 

Mar. 16 D’Evelyn HS Choir Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 16-17 Standley Lake HS Choir Concerts 7 p.m. 

Mar. 17 Green Mtn HS Concert Bands Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 16-19 Ralston Valley HS Musical-TBA 7 p.m. 

Mar. 17 Golden HS Choir Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 17-19 Dakota Ridge HS Musical-“Footloose” 7 p.m. 

Mar. 17-19 Alameda HS Musical 7 p.m. 

Mar. 18 Wheat Ridge HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 18-20 Arvada West HS Musical-TBA 7 p.m. 

Mar. 21 Conifer HS Choir Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 22 Standley Lake HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 22 Chatfield HS Band Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 22 Alameda HS Choir Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 22-26 Arvada HS Musical-TBA 7 p.m. 

Mar. 24 Alameda HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 24 Green Mtn HS Choir Concert 7 p.m. 

Mar. 24-26 Chatfield HS Musical-TBA 7 p.m. 

Mar. 24-26 Arvada HS Musical-TBA 7 p.m. 

Apr. 12 Evergreen HS Band Concert 7 p.m. 

Apr. 26 Green Mtn HS Concert Bands Concert 7 p.m. 

Apr. 28 Golden HS Percussion Concert 7 p.m. 

May 3 Arvada West HS String/Sym Band Concert 7 p.m. 

May 3 Jefferson HS Choir Concert 6:30 p.m. 

May 4 Arvada West HS Chmber Orch/ Wind Ens. Concert 7 p.m. 

May 4 Green Mtn HS Choir Concert 7 p.m. 

Date School Group Time/Cost 

May 4 Pomona HS Band Concert 7 p.m. 

May 5 Pomona HS Orchestra Concert 7 p.m. 

May 5 Ralston Valley HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

May 6-7 Bear Creek HS Choir Pops Concerts 7 p.m. 

May 8 Arvada HS Band Concert 7 p.m. 

May 9 Chatfield HS Orchestra Concert 7 p.m. 

May 9 Arvada West HS Jazz/Percussion Ens. Concert 7 p.m. 

May 9 Arvada HS Pops Concert-Choir 7 p.m. 

May 9-10 Pomona HS Choir Concerts 7 p.m. 

May 10 Standley Lake HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

May 10 Chatfield HS Choir Concert 7 p.m./$3 

May 10 D’Evelyn HS Choir Concert 7 p.m. 

May 10 Alameda HS Choir Pops Concert 7 p.m. 

May 11 Chatfield HS Jazz Bands Concert 7 p.m. 

May 11-12 Golden HS Pops Concerts 7 p.m. 

May 12 Chatfield HS Bands Concert 7 p.m. 

May 12 Bear Creek HS Band/Orch Concert 7 p.m. 

May 12 Dakota Ridge HS Choir Concert 7 p.m. 

May 12 D’Evelyn HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

May 12 Alameda HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

May 12 Columbine HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

May 12 Wheat Ridge HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

May 12 Arvada HS Orchestra Concert 7 p.m. 

May 12-13 Arvada West HS Choir Pops Concert 7 p.m. 

May 13 Wheat Ridge HS Jazz Night-Choir 7 p.m. 

May 13 Evergreen HS Orchestra Concert 7 p.m. 

May 13-14 Conifer HS Choir Concerts 7 p.m. 

May 16-17 Ralston Valley HS Choir Concerts 7 p.m./$3-$5 

May 16, 18 Columbine HS Choir Concerts 7:30 p.m. 

May 17 Conifer HS Instrumental Concert 7 p.m. 

May 17-20 Lakewood HS Pops Concert-(Instru./Choir) 7 p.m. 

May 18 Green Mtn HS Jazz Concert (Mercury Café) 6 p.m. 

May 19 Wheat Ridge HS Choir Concert 7 p.m./$3 

May 19 Evergreen HS Vocal Showcase Concert 7:30 p.m. 

May 19-20 Standley Lake HS Collage-Choir Concerts 7 p.m. 

Save the date... 

May 4, 2011 

Join Jeffco for our Celebration of Excellence, 

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at Arvada West 

High School at 5:30 p.m. Find out why 

Chatfield High School’s marching band 

gets international acclaim. 


14 




Paid Advertisement 

Do you know the keys to raising a 

Happy and Successful Child? 

-JEFFERSON COUNTY 

Do you know the keys to raising a 

Happy, and Successful child? 

How about the secrets to cutting 

through all the "clutter" and distractions 

and really teaching your 

child the "Core" life skills that they 

need forever? 

Or the "Secret Formula" for developing 

the character that makes a 

kid a Leader NOT Follower? 

If Not, You Soon Will... 

There is some good news because 

there's a school in Jeffco just for 

parents and families who really understand 

that the foundation they 

give their kids NOW are the keys to 

their success later in life! 

Yes, it's true and you won't believe 

how simple it really is to instill in 

your young one all the "Core" life 

skills that propel them to achievement! 

But the best part about 

everything I'm about to reveal to 

you is... 

Your child will be having so much 

fun that they'll forget they're leaning 

valuable skills that will turn 

them into leaders! 

Master Instructor of Success 

Martial Arts Korey Stites has been 

teaching martial arts for 15 years. 

Stites says, "I discovered over the 

years is that more families bring 

their kids to martial arts for so 

many other benefits totally unrelated 

to kicking and punching. The 

sad part is that there are too many 

karate schools out there who claim 

they can deliver what parents really 

want but fail miserably at actually 

delivering it! But Not Success Martial 

Arts and I Can Prove it to you!" 

Our curriculum will build physical 

ability through martial arts, but the 

true value comes from the positive 

"transformation" that occurs in all 

of our students. They may be shy 

and then in a short time they've 

got confidence. They may've been 

a little un-rulie, but in no time flat 

they're focused and respectful. It 

really goes on and on! 

Success Martial Arts teaches 

young people all the skills they 

need to excel at school, at home 

and in life! 

Families just like yours from all 

over Colorado are giving their children 

(and themselves) the unfair 

advantage of Success Martial Arts 

here's some of their feedback... 

"Before joining karate I was scared 

to talk in front of a group of people. 

Since joining karate it has been 

easier to talk in front of the class. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess it gets easier each time you 

do something that used to make 

you scared." 

Danny Shterk, Lafayette 

"Our daughter, who is now 14, 

started karate about three and 

a half years ago and she has excelled 

in karate as well as school 

and home. We attribute it to the 

martial arts. We have learned many 

things together as we have watched 

her grow in the arts. She has made 

great strides in concentration, focus 

and manners. We have enjoyed 

watching our daughter become a 

leader because of karate. We really 

believe in karate and that she will 

be achieving black belt in less than 

six months and has made it to her 

first goal in karate." 

Jeff & Elaine Britt, Thornton

February 2011 - JEFFCO Public Schools

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