Great Things Going On Now
Congratulations to Center High School and Skoglund Middle School for being named Colorado Department of Education Healthy Schools Champions for the second straight year! CDE’s Healthy School Champion program utilizes an assessment tool for schools to examine best practices in eight areas of coordinated school health surronding school health policies and programs. These areas include health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, counseling and social services, healthy and safe school environment, health promotion for staff members, and community, family, and student involvement in school. Of course big thank you goes out to Center Schools contracted counselor Katrina Ruggles, and Center Schools secretary and comprehensive health grant coordinator Marsha Felmlee for all the work they do to operate and publicize these programs!
This week I also noticed that many Center Schools staff members have been participating in early morning book studies aimed at improving classroom instruction strategies and techniques. I just can’t thank our teachers and administrators enough for being willing to continually grow professionally by doing such work, even when it begins so early in the morning!
Center Schools is proud of Marcus Torrez and Jerico Gallegos for their participation at Top of the Nation Honor Band at Adams State University. Marcus and Jerico played in a 100-member concert band with other high school students from all over Colorado. In doing so, they had to go above and beyond normal class requirements, learning difficult new music, then rehearsing in sectionals and in the large ensemble for almost two and a half days straight. They performed a week ago Saturday and the concert was a success!
Center Schools is proud of Marcus Torrez and Jerico Gallegos for their participation at Top of the Nation Honor Band at Adams State University. Marcus and Jerico played in a 100-member concert band with other high school students from all over Colorado. In doing so, they had to go above and beyond normal class requirements, learning difficult new music, then rehearsing in sectionals and in the large ensemble for almost two and a half days straight. They performed a week ago Saturday and the concert was a success!
While doing work in my “hallway office” this past week I had the opportunity to hear several persuasive letters read to me by some Haskin Elementary School 4th graders. The topic they were trying to persuade me about was the possibility of including them in our iPad instructional program. The writing was great, entertaining, and persuasive and you can bet I’ll be doing all I can to make sure these students have an opportunity to participate in such a program before they leave elementary school!
The Past Week
During the past week I met with other Valley superintendents about how to implement the Affordable Health Care Act, I attended an all Valley cost sharing meeting, I met with El Pomar staff about their vision for supporting the San Luis Valley in the future, and I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time in out buildings.
Big Things We Are Working On
We’ll turn our focus back to teacher evaluation this week as we begin work on how we’ll tie student achievement to teacher and principal evaluations.
We are also continuing to monitor the progression of the new School Finance Act. Teresa Benns of the Center Post Dispatch wrote a fine article about what is happening with it. You can access it here: http://www.centerpostdispatch.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=2051
We are also continuing to monitor the progression of the new School Finance Act. Teresa Benns of the Center Post Dispatch wrote a fine article about what is happening with it. You can access it here: http://www.centerpostdispatch.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=2051
Our Core Beliefs
Our first core belief states “our purpose is to increase academic achievement for ALL students.” In Center Schools we make it our main focus to increase students academic achievement. This means no matter what skills and support a child comes to our building with, we feel we can help them to grow significantly. Our staff members model this behavior each and every day.
Our second core belief states “with our support ALL children can achieve at high levels and be successful in life.” In Center Schools this means we believe that what we do at school makes the key difference regarding how much each child learns. We know that the precious time we have our kids in our classrooms is what makes the difference in their learning.
Our third core belief states “quality planning, instruction, and assessments lead to high achievement for ALL students.” To Center Schools this means our teachers understand the importance of successfully planning, then teaching engaging lessons that are tied to state standards, and periodically checking to make sure students are actually learning what is being taught.
Our fourth core belief states “EVERYONE must be committed to excellence in ALL they do EVERY day. Center Schools hopes that when you come to our schools you will notice that all the people you come into contact with are always striving for excellence. We believe we have the best instructional staff in the Valley. We also believe our office personnel, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, and technicians offer the best support they can to make sure our learning environment is successful for kids.
Thanks for listening once again and have a great week!
George
Our second core belief states “with our support ALL children can achieve at high levels and be successful in life.” In Center Schools this means we believe that what we do at school makes the key difference regarding how much each child learns. We know that the precious time we have our kids in our classrooms is what makes the difference in their learning.
Our third core belief states “quality planning, instruction, and assessments lead to high achievement for ALL students.” To Center Schools this means our teachers understand the importance of successfully planning, then teaching engaging lessons that are tied to state standards, and periodically checking to make sure students are actually learning what is being taught.
Our fourth core belief states “EVERYONE must be committed to excellence in ALL they do EVERY day. Center Schools hopes that when you come to our schools you will notice that all the people you come into contact with are always striving for excellence. We believe we have the best instructional staff in the Valley. We also believe our office personnel, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, and technicians offer the best support they can to make sure our learning environment is successful for kids.
Thanks for listening once again and have a great week!
George
