Great Things Going On Now
I would like to offer thanks to our latest crew of AmeriCorps workers for the great job they did coordinating Thursday’s community day of service in Center. At this event many students and community members were brought together to go through our old elementary, middle and high school buildings to sort through items to be taken to a recycling facility. Old textbooks, paper items, posters, and aluminum items were gathered and sorted then placed on a trailer to be transported. The hard work of our AmeriCorps friends and the student and adult volunteers they gathered allowed us to make sure many items we otherwise would have abandoned in the old buildings will not go to waste.
Center Schools moving days took place from Tuesday through Thursday of last week. Boxed classroom items were relocated to the new facility. Library, music, and office staff members supervised the relocation of their delicate items to their new spaces. The moving crew did a fantastic job, lining the floor of the new school with panels to prevent traffic damage and carrying all middle-high items up the stairs because we do not yet have certification to operate our elevator.
Graduation day went off without a hitch. Because of a lack of access to gymnasium facilities the ceremony was held on the front lawn of Haskin Elementary School. The only problem during the event was the high winds that accompanied it. Center High School principal Kevin Jones and the senior class did a great job of mapping out the ceremony. Senior class sponsors Scott Poole, Lauren McEvoy, and Daniel Newmyer also did a wonderful job of coordinating practices and planning the festivities.
Graduation day went off without a hitch. Because of a lack of access to gymnasium facilities the ceremony was held on the front lawn of Haskin Elementary School. The only problem during the event was the high winds that accompanied it. Center High School principal Kevin Jones and the senior class did a great job of mapping out the ceremony. Senior class sponsors Scott Poole, Lauren McEvoy, and Daniel Newmyer also did a wonderful job of coordinating practices and planning the festivities.
I would especially like to thank the Center Schools custodial staff and the Center Schools technology department for the great work they did setting up the stage, laying out the chairs, supplying a quality sound system, and providing for the viewing of the senior slide show despite the adverse weather conditions we had to deal with. They all performed their tasks above and beyond the call of duty to make a great ceremony possible for our young men and women.
The Past Week
On Monday I attended a Focal Point curriculum roll out meeting in Limon.
On Tuesday I worked with Virtual School director Chris Vance, director of instruction Lori Cooper and 3rd Grade teacher Jessica Stevens on a model 3rd grade math curriculum for our San Luis Valley Race to the Top Collaborative.
Wednesday and Thursday were filled with moving into our new building. On Wednesday afternoon I also attended Governor Hickenlooper’s TBD session in Alamosa along with Center school board president Michael Lobato and Lori Cooper. You can read more about the purpose of this event by accessing this Valley Courier article by Lauren Krizansky.
On Wednesday evening I also had the pleasure of meeting with former Center Schools employee Ben Kern and Denver University professor Nick Cutforth about PE curriculum development for our San Luis Valley Race to the Top Collaborative. On Thursday evening we held a special board of education meeting to approve graduates and to act on probationary teacher employment recommendations. Friday was our last chance to go through classrooms in our old buildings to make sure we are not leaving behind anything of use or importance.
On Tuesday I worked with Virtual School director Chris Vance, director of instruction Lori Cooper and 3rd Grade teacher Jessica Stevens on a model 3rd grade math curriculum for our San Luis Valley Race to the Top Collaborative.
Wednesday and Thursday were filled with moving into our new building. On Wednesday afternoon I also attended Governor Hickenlooper’s TBD session in Alamosa along with Center school board president Michael Lobato and Lori Cooper. You can read more about the purpose of this event by accessing this Valley Courier article by Lauren Krizansky.
On Wednesday evening I also had the pleasure of meeting with former Center Schools employee Ben Kern and Denver University professor Nick Cutforth about PE curriculum development for our San Luis Valley Race to the Top Collaborative. On Thursday evening we held a special board of education meeting to approve graduates and to act on probationary teacher employment recommendations. Friday was our last chance to go through classrooms in our old buildings to make sure we are not leaving behind anything of use or importance.
Big Things We Are Working On
Though we just held graduation ceremonies Saturday, summer school programs will start Tuesday May 29th with staff member preparation meetings. Children will show up for instruction on Wednesday May 30th. Big thanks go out to the St. Francis Jerome Catholic Church, the Center United Methodist Church, and the Center Masonic Lodge for allowing us to use their facilities to conduct these programs. Haskin Elementary School instructional coach Sarah Vance will supervise the elementary program which will provide reading and math intervention services to 52 students. Haskin Elementary School special education teacher LJ Garcia will supervise the middle school program which will offer similar services to about 30 students in grades 5-7.
We are still working on a preliminary 2012-13 budget. This will be presented to the board of education at a special meeting at Noon on Wednesday May 30th.
Following preliminary budget development I will turn my focus to evaluations of department leaders and the completion of our annual federal programs application.
We are still working on a preliminary 2012-13 budget. This will be presented to the board of education at a special meeting at Noon on Wednesday May 30th.
Following preliminary budget development I will turn my focus to evaluations of department leaders and the completion of our annual federal programs application.
Construction News
As of now we no longer have access to our old buildings. This week preparations for demolition will take place and earth work will expand to the remainder of the site. The only facilities we have access to operate right now are the administration building and the alternative school modular, which is serving as a temporary library site.
The Week Ahead
Though Monday is Memorial Day I will be taking Center Town and Country Club members on a tour of the new facility. Tuesday will be spent on routine office tasks. On Wednesday we have our bi-weekly construction planning meeting. I will be taking a trip to Denver on Thursday to attend the Rural Education Challenge meeting in Brighton. While at this gathering I will be serving on a panel of rural superintendents to communicate about the many challenges we currently face. I will also be in Denver on Friday to attend the June Colorado Education Association, Colorado Association of School Boards and Colorado Association of School Executives Anchor Group meeting.
Extra Points
Many individuals with ties to the Center Consolidated School District will be participating in the 2012 Center Beginner Triathlon next Saturday, June 2nd at the Sand Dunes Swimming Pool in Hooper. Center Virtual Academy director Chris Vance, Haskin Elementary instructional coach Sarah Vance, Fyock Community Library director Becky Reed, former Center Schools Board of Education president Janet Kuntz, Haskin Elementary principal Kathy Kulp, and Haskin Elementary 3rd grade teacher Christy Mikeljack have been training since the beginning of February in preparation for this event. They will be among approximately 50 total participants from all over Colorado in this year’s event. For Chris, Sarah, Janet, Kathy, and Christy this will be their first attempt at completing a sprint length triathlon. The dedication these individuals have shown to their training is a fine example of how hard work pays off in achievement. When each of them crosses the finish line they will feel the reward of setting a seemingly impossible goal and seeing it through to completion. It seems we have a lot of great folks on our staff in Center who do these kinds of things. Our children are truly lucky for that. If you want to come out to view the event and cheer them on, come to the Sand Dunes Swimming Pool around 7 AM next Saturday.
Good luck Triathletes!
Thanks for listening again.
George
Good luck Triathletes!
Thanks for listening again.
George