Great Things Going On Now
This week the Haskin Elementary School staff treated their students to quite the dance routine at the annual Halloween parade. Staff members dressed up as super heroes and after the costume awards were passed out Haskin educators performed a dance routine to the song “Men in Black.” The students loved the surprise and had a special day all around.
I would like to commend the entire Center Schools teaching staff for their great attitude in working through the setup of the Blomboard aspect of our Senate Bill 191 pilot work. We are at the point this year where teachers and administrators are conducting self evaluations and building improvement plans to focus on for the rest of the year.
Finally, a big thank you goes out to Haskin Elementary 5th grade Teacher Honey Stecken for beginning the Elf’s Attic program. This will creatively distribute Christmas gifts to Center folks who may not other wise be able to do so.
I would like to commend the entire Center Schools teaching staff for their great attitude in working through the setup of the Blomboard aspect of our Senate Bill 191 pilot work. We are at the point this year where teachers and administrators are conducting self evaluations and building improvement plans to focus on for the rest of the year.
Finally, a big thank you goes out to Haskin Elementary 5th grade Teacher Honey Stecken for beginning the Elf’s Attic program. This will creatively distribute Christmas gifts to Center folks who may not other wise be able to do so.
The Past Week
I was out of the district for much of the past week. On Monday I attended the monthly CEA, CASE, CASB Anchor Group meeting in Denver. I stayed in the Denver area to attend the third School Finance Technical Advisory Group meeting on Tuesday. While in the area I also had the opportunity to see the final packaging of the San Luis Valley Race to the Top Consortium grant, and to drop in on the folks at the CDE Capital Construction department.
I was in Center for Halloween on Wednesday. The morning was great as many students and staff members dressed for the occasion. The afternoon was spent in school level PLCs conducting work on SB 191 and reviewing student achievement data.
I was back in the Denver Metro area on Thursday and Friday as I attended a CASE Strategic Planning session in Golden. This event takes place every two years to help steer the future direction of the organization and as I am now past president of CASE, it will be my last such event.
I was in Center for Halloween on Wednesday. The morning was great as many students and staff members dressed for the occasion. The afternoon was spent in school level PLCs conducting work on SB 191 and reviewing student achievement data.
I was back in the Denver Metro area on Thursday and Friday as I attended a CASE Strategic Planning session in Golden. This event takes place every two years to help steer the future direction of the organization and as I am now past president of CASE, it will be my last such event.
Big Things We Are Working On
Our auditors have begin to do the work of reviewing our fiscal year 2011-12 books. It is nice to have this process in full swing so early in the new fiscal year!
We are in the process of wrapping up our annual pupil count and it looks like we’ll be up a few students over last year. A big thank you goes out to Technology Consultant Cindi Brown for the great work she does coordinating this process.
I will also attend yet anther School Finance Technical Advisory Group meeting this week, as Senator Michael Johnston continues to explore ways to revise the school finance act. Governor Hickenlooper’s 2013 budget proposal actually increases education funding for the first time in the past 5 years. As of right now Center Schools would see close to a $200 per student increase in funding if his proposal sticks.
We are in the process of wrapping up our annual pupil count and it looks like we’ll be up a few students over last year. A big thank you goes out to Technology Consultant Cindi Brown for the great work she does coordinating this process.
I will also attend yet anther School Finance Technical Advisory Group meeting this week, as Senator Michael Johnston continues to explore ways to revise the school finance act. Governor Hickenlooper’s 2013 budget proposal actually increases education funding for the first time in the past 5 years. As of right now Center Schools would see close to a $200 per student increase in funding if his proposal sticks.
The Week Ahead
As stated above, I will be at the 4th School Finance TAG meeting this Monday in Denver. On Tuesday I’ll focus on our custodial department as we transition to maintaining our new facility. Wednesday and Thursday are Parent Teacher conference days. On Wednesday most of our administration team will be in Alamosa for a Valley wide administrator PLC. There will be no school on Friday but all Center Schools teachers will be in the Blanca-Fort Garland area for our third All Valley PLV session.
Video of the Week
This week I thought it might be fun to share the Haskin Elementary staff Halloween dance performance. You can view it at this link: http://keepingourfocus.weebly.com/videos.html
Thanks for listening once again. Have a great week!
George
Thanks for listening once again. Have a great week!
George