Great Things Going On
It goes without saying that I should start this week off by congratulating Daniel Newmyer upon taking top honors at last week’s SLV Teacher of the Year banquet. By now you have probably read many stories about Daniel’s teaching excellence so I also want to mention that of great assistance to him in this process has been the opportunities he has been able to take advantage of while working for Center Schools. Surrounded by great team members and building administrators, and given access to advanced educational technology, Daniel has optimized his circumstances and driven student learning and achievement to higher and higher levels. Congratulations Daniel!
Speaking of Daniel, Center High School learned that Class of 2013 member Alexa Lobato is one of this year’s recipients of the Daniels Foundation Scholarship (no relation to Daniel Newmyer). This is a very prestigious award and will offer Alexa the opportunity to attend four years of college practically anywhere she chooses to go, and is accepted. Congratulations Alexa!
Speaking of Daniel, Center High School learned that Class of 2013 member Alexa Lobato is one of this year’s recipients of the Daniels Foundation Scholarship (no relation to Daniel Newmyer). This is a very prestigious award and will offer Alexa the opportunity to attend four years of college practically anywhere she chooses to go, and is accepted. Congratulations Alexa!
A big thank you goes out to CHS principal Kevin Jones, Skoglund Middle School principal Carrie Zimmerman and Center schools contracted counselor Katrina Ruggles for setting up an individual merit system that in the end allowed students who have exhibited excellent behavior and academic achievement to attend the 9 News Science Day at the Rockies game. Mr. Jones and Mrs. Zimmerman said the kids behaved wonderfully and they even got to see some free baseball as the game went extra innings and the Rocks pulled it out with a walk off hit.
I also want to thank Haskin Elementary 1st grade teacher Kathy Garcia for the expert way she is implementing the use of iPads in her classroom. I had the opportunity to poke into her class last week and saw her students using them to engage in a lesson about how to divide shapes into fractions. What a way to engage kids. Great work Kathy!
I also want to thank Haskin Elementary 1st grade teacher Kathy Garcia for the expert way she is implementing the use of iPads in her classroom. I had the opportunity to poke into her class last week and saw her students using them to engage in a lesson about how to divide shapes into fractions. What a way to engage kids. Great work Kathy!
Thank you also to Center High School social studies teacher Scott Poole for arranging to bring in a guest speaker to teach our students about the Holocaust. This is never an easy subject to broach with kids but George Eidinger was able to share details about this unfortunate historic event that will no doubt leave a strong impression with our students for years to come.
Finally, just about every 4 years I learn to appreciate just how much work goes into pulling of a high school prom. This reality hits me right on top of the head because my wife Becky becomes involved with the process as a junior class sponsor. With prom now over I look forward to getting to know her again, as no doubt our other junior class sponsor spouses must feel. Needless to say, in order for a prom to go off successfully it takes wonderful sponsors and a dedicated staff. However, I am not just going to thank this year’s cadre, but rather offer a nod to all those who have supported this process in the past and all who will do so in the future. Being a junior class sponsor and preparing for that one special night takes a year’s worth of work. This year along with Becky, Susan Banning, Russ Braiden, and Cynthia Gallagher led the charge as sponsors. Additionally the facilities crew, Haskin PE teacher Andy Hawkins, CHS trades teacher Mark Jones, CHS secretary Deb Lujan, “The Voice of the Vikings” John Noriega, director of technology Julio Paez, and Center Schools behavior specialist Jose Chavez deserve great thanks. Additionally, this year’s crop of junior class parents did an outstanding job of providing a wonderful after prom experience for the kids. Thanks to all who were involved!
Finally, just about every 4 years I learn to appreciate just how much work goes into pulling of a high school prom. This reality hits me right on top of the head because my wife Becky becomes involved with the process as a junior class sponsor. With prom now over I look forward to getting to know her again, as no doubt our other junior class sponsor spouses must feel. Needless to say, in order for a prom to go off successfully it takes wonderful sponsors and a dedicated staff. However, I am not just going to thank this year’s cadre, but rather offer a nod to all those who have supported this process in the past and all who will do so in the future. Being a junior class sponsor and preparing for that one special night takes a year’s worth of work. This year along with Becky, Susan Banning, Russ Braiden, and Cynthia Gallagher led the charge as sponsors. Additionally the facilities crew, Haskin PE teacher Andy Hawkins, CHS trades teacher Mark Jones, CHS secretary Deb Lujan, “The Voice of the Vikings” John Noriega, director of technology Julio Paez, and Center Schools behavior specialist Jose Chavez deserve great thanks. Additionally, this year’s crop of junior class parents did an outstanding job of providing a wonderful after prom experience for the kids. Thanks to all who were involved!
The Past Week
On Monday Center Schools hosted a team of consultants from Focal Point who came in to offer a third party view of progress being made in its schools. On Tuesday our junior class members took the Colorado ACT test. On Wednesday Mr. Poole hosted a holocaust presentation, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Jan Vigil who will be filling our middle school social studies position next year, and Mr. Newmyer was honored as SLV Teacher of the Year. On Thursday I met with Center Schools director of facilities Rich Brandt to plan summer maintenance projects. On Friday I travelled to Parachute for the quarterly CDE Rural Education Council meeting. The week ended with a late night on Saturday
Big Things We are Working On
Many parents may have noticed our renewed effort to keep vehicles out of the bus lane. Unfortunately, perhaps because of our lack of enforcement, this has become a bit of a problem. A few weeks ago a child was nearly hit in the bus lane by a car. Because of this we are getting back to making sure parents do not drop off their kids at the bus lane in front of the cafeteria. The Center Police Department is assisting us with this effort and is just issuing warnings for the time being. These warnings will turn into tickets for persistent violators. As a reminder, we actually built a drop off and pick up area at the North end of the parking lot. This can be accessed from 4th street.
A lot of work will be done this week regarding planning next year’s budget. We’ll take a closer look at our projected student cont numbers and begin to build a staffing plan to serve them.
School finance is still a key topic at the capitol. It is looking like the Johnston Finance Act will pass. This is turning our attention to what the ballot question that would fund the act will actually look like.
A lot of work will be done this week regarding planning next year’s budget. We’ll take a closer look at our projected student cont numbers and begin to build a staffing plan to serve them.
School finance is still a key topic at the capitol. It is looking like the Johnston Finance Act will pass. This is turning our attention to what the ballot question that would fund the act will actually look like.
The Coming Week
On Monday I will be working on next year’s budget with finance director Betty Casanova and I will begin meeting with building administrators to develop staffing models for next year. Representatives of the Buena Vista School District will be on campus late in the afternoon to pick our brains about our building project. On Tuesday Center Schools students will be taking a district writing assessment and Save the Children will be hosting a parent night event in the old ARC building. On Thursday Center High School students will be attending a career fair at Adams State University. On Friday I’ll be in Denver to help CDE review turnaround grant proposals form districts all over the state.
Extra Points
Many people know me as a bit of triathlon aficionado. Back in 2003 Becky and I completed our first Olympic length triathlons. The longest ones we have ever done are a couple of half iron triathlons over the past several years. Since 2003 I have often thought about trying to tackle the granddaddy of triathlons, an iron length one. To put it in perspective, an iron length triathlon is twice the length of a half iron (sort of makes sense, doesn’t it). As my biological clock continues to tick away the years I have finally decided to give the iron triathlon a whirl. This weekend I officially registered for the Redman Triathlon that takes place in Oklahoma City in mid-September. That means I still have 20 weeks to get ready! So if you see me walking stiff legged or stooping over in pain you need not worry. It will likely just be the result of something I consider to be my way to have “fun.”
As for Becky, when I proposed the idea to her she said she would rather have root canal. So that’s what she will be doing this year.
Thanks for listening again and have a great week!
George
As for Becky, when I proposed the idea to her she said she would rather have root canal. So that’s what she will be doing this year.
Thanks for listening again and have a great week!
George