Great Things Going On
I want to begin this week by congratulating Center High School junior Carmen Ruggles on her third place finish in the Colorado State Science and Engineering Fair this past weekend. Carmen’s project was in the category of Behavioral Health, focused on using receptacles with models to help encourage people to recycle. Besides taking third place in a category, she also won a special award in the category of environment and recycling!
Also on the emerging scientist front, we are pleased to announce that Center High School students Aidee Valles and Dean Martinez have been invited to present their scientific research projects at the 2015 American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers Exposition in Los Angeles, California from April 30th to May 2nd. Aidee, a CHS senior, will be sharing her findings on converting hand-held electronic devices like iPods, iPhones, and sound amplifiers into never ending solar powered integrated devices. She has already been awarded a college scholarship based on this work. Dean’s presentation focuses on music integrated software and the creation of a health-training app that has already been fully endorsed by professional athlete and Adams State University Alum Zoila Gomez. Dean, only a sophomore at Center High School, already knows how to program computers in three different languages. Congratulations Aidee and Dean!
Also on the emerging scientist front, we are pleased to announce that Center High School students Aidee Valles and Dean Martinez have been invited to present their scientific research projects at the 2015 American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers Exposition in Los Angeles, California from April 30th to May 2nd. Aidee, a CHS senior, will be sharing her findings on converting hand-held electronic devices like iPods, iPhones, and sound amplifiers into never ending solar powered integrated devices. She has already been awarded a college scholarship based on this work. Dean’s presentation focuses on music integrated software and the creation of a health-training app that has already been fully endorsed by professional athlete and Adams State University Alum Zoila Gomez. Dean, only a sophomore at Center High School, already knows how to program computers in three different languages. Congratulations Aidee and Dean!
Also exciting news this week, and coming as no surprise to many of us here in the Center School District, this past Friday Center High School math-science and scientific research teacher Diego Martinez was named Colorado’s Science Teacher of the Year. This award was presented to him at the Colorado State Science and Engineering Fair for the great work he has been doing guiding the success of students in the field of scientific research. Congratulations Diego!
I want to take a moment to thank the large contingent of staff members and community members who helped put on the Skoglund Middle School Knowledge Bowl event that took place this last Thursday. About a dozen area schools came to participate and we received many compliments about how well the event was conducted.
I want to take a moment to thank the large contingent of staff members and community members who helped put on the Skoglund Middle School Knowledge Bowl event that took place this last Thursday. About a dozen area schools came to participate and we received many compliments about how well the event was conducted.
Finally, this past Tuesday Center Schools and the Town of Center once again participated in the national Mayor’s Day of Recognition for National Service. On this day each year mayors and county executives hold public events to highlight the value of national service to our country's communities. This initiative is led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the National League of Cities, and Cities of Service. At this year’s event Town of Center mayor Herman Sisneros offered our students some words of wisdom, honored our many local Americorps workers, and then our students volunteered their precious time in an effort to beautify the Center Community Park. I want to thank Mayor Sisneros for participating, and our students for honoring those around us who are committed to public service through their volunteer efforts.
Big Things We Are Working On
On Thursday evening April 9th the Center Schools Board of Education hosted a meet and greet session for community members to engage in conversation with the lone finalist to fill our superintendent of schools position, Chris Vance. During the event roughly thirty citizens were able to converse with Mr. Vance while also meeting his family members. It is anticipated the Center Schools board of education will offer Mr. Vance a contract for employment as superintendent of schools for 2015-16 at their regular April meeting to be held on Tuesday April 14th.
On Friday April 10th Center Schools hosted the last San Luis Valley regional teacher Professional Learning Community session of the school year. At this event teachers were treated to a comedic presentation after enjoying a wonderful breakfast served by our food service staff. They then attended grade level-subject area PLC sessions aimed at refining 3rd quarter assessments and creating 4th quarter tests aimed at measuring student learning of the Colorado Sample Curriculum. After another wonderful meal teachers were then able to choose from a number of one hour-long breakout sessions being offered by our talented teaching staff. I would like to thank our many outstanding Center Schools educators who guided their PLC work and shared their knowledge of instructional strategies with folks form all around the San Luis Valley region last Friday.
I spent a lot of time last week finalizing principal evaluations in preparation for our board of education to consider extending contracts to them for the 2015-16 school year. I will be meeting face to face with each principal on Monday April 13th before passing along my recommendations to the board of education at their meeting on Tuesday April 14th.
On Friday April 10th Center Schools hosted the last San Luis Valley regional teacher Professional Learning Community session of the school year. At this event teachers were treated to a comedic presentation after enjoying a wonderful breakfast served by our food service staff. They then attended grade level-subject area PLC sessions aimed at refining 3rd quarter assessments and creating 4th quarter tests aimed at measuring student learning of the Colorado Sample Curriculum. After another wonderful meal teachers were then able to choose from a number of one hour-long breakout sessions being offered by our talented teaching staff. I would like to thank our many outstanding Center Schools educators who guided their PLC work and shared their knowledge of instructional strategies with folks form all around the San Luis Valley region last Friday.
I spent a lot of time last week finalizing principal evaluations in preparation for our board of education to consider extending contracts to them for the 2015-16 school year. I will be meeting face to face with each principal on Monday April 13th before passing along my recommendations to the board of education at their meeting on Tuesday April 14th.
The Past Week
On Tuesday I travelled to Denver and back to chair the Colorado School Safety Resource Center advisory board meeting. While there I was treated to some wonderful presentations by high school students from throughout the state of Colorado who have taken personal initiative to develop programs aimed at improving school safety. On Wednesday I met with Saguache County director of social services Linda Warsh to discuss how Center Schools might better take advantage of TANF funding. It was refreshing to be engaged by her to seek ways to spend those dollars to benefit students and families in our communities. On Thursday many of our Center High School seniors attended the annual Trinidad State Community College Red Carpet Scholarship Day. On Friday we didn’t have children on campus, but our staff hosted the regional teacher PLC in our facility.
The Week Ahead
As stated, I will spend the greater part of the day Monday meeting with principals about their annual evaluations. On late Monday afternoon I will travel to Alamosa to serve on the San Luis Valley Teacher of Year interview committee. On Tuesday I will be in Alamosa once again to attend the monthly San Luis Valley Superintendent Advisory Council meeting. That afternoon I will attend our monthly District Accountability Committee meeting, and our regular April board meeting that evening. Wednesday offers me the chance to learn from other superintendents around the region by attending a superintendent PLC session that will be held in Sargent Schools. On Thursday I have my monthly Early Steps to School Success site visit. We have no school again on Friday but Center Schools students will have the opportunity to take field trips to the Kit Carson Museum in Fort Garland, and the Roadway Inn Water park in Alamosa.
Thanks for listening once again.
George
Thanks for listening once again.
George