Keeping Our Focus
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    • 2015 >
      • Binational Educator Exchange
      • January 11, 2015
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    • 2014 >
      • 2014 In Review Part 1
      • 2014 In Review Part 2
      • 2014 Accreditation
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      • Alternative to Expulsion Policy
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      • January 6, 2014
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      • Extra Points 10-5-14
      • October 13, 2014
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    • 2013 >
      • January 6, 2013
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      • 2013 in Review
    • 2012 >
      • 2012 in Review
      • Class of 2012 Graduation Video
      • 3rd Grade TCAP Release
      • December 16, 2012
      • December 9, 2012
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    • 2011 >
      • 2011 in Review
      • Dec 25, 2011
      • Dec 18, 2011
      • Dec, 11, 2011
      • Dec 4, 2011
      • Nov 27, 2011
      • Nov 13, 2011
    • Lobato Decision >
      • Lobato Update

Great Things Going On

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On Friday December 20th the Center School District held its annual all staff Christmas party and I would like to once again thank Director of Instruction Lori Cooper for all the work she did in preparation for it.  I think we have the best education staff in Colorado and because of Lori’s efforts everyone was treated to a great meal, wonderful party games, and a slew of outstanding door prizes.  It was a great way to celebrate the end of the first semester, and to spend time building relationships and just enjoying each other.  Thanks again Lori!

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I would also like to commend Center High School science teacher Quinn Harmon for the great work she did putting together a Christmas Chemistry session with her students.  On Wednesday December 18th her kids mixed together elements and compounds to make snow, Yule fires, ice, and other amazing seasonal things, and the best part of the activity was that Haskin Elementary School students were invited to participate and learn.  Thanks Quinn for adding an academic twist to the lead up to the holiday season!

This particular activity was just one of many examples of our staff and students working diligently right up until the end of the semester.  If you were on campus during the week of December 16-20 you would have observed students wrapping up mid-year NWEA benchmark testing, taking quarterly classroom assessments, and for those few students who were not yet done, completing all remaining required first semester work.  This is just one example of how Center Schools staff and kids pursue excellence in all they do every day!

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On a final note I would like to thank our most recent Americorps team for the tremendous impact they had on our students.  While here these 11 young men and women worked one on one with our students instructing them in math and reading, helping out everywhere an extra hand was needed, and even taking on the Haskin 5th graders in dodgeball.  Unfortunately the team left the Center area on Thursday December 19th but the friendships they made and the impact they had on our children academically will last forever.  We are hopeful we will receive the services of another team in March.  

Big Things We Are Working On

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By the end of January the district will be required to submit a revised budget to the Colorado Department of Education.  This is an annual event and this year’s budget revision will mainly focus on budgeting extra dollars the district will be receiving due to increased pupil count, and early SRS distribution agreement with Saguache County, and greater than anticipated beginning of year funding. 

Principals and teachers will be spending the better part of January completing mid-year SB 191 style evaluations.  This process includes allowing staff members the opportunity to offer input regarding the performance of their principal, and allowing students the opportunity to offer feedback regarding their teacher.  We are hoping all mid year evaluations are completed by February 1st.   

Finally, Center teachers will once again be meeting with instructors from all over the San Luis Valley to create 3rd quarter assessments of the Colorado Sample Curriculum.  This work will take place on Friday January 10th in Sanford, so school will not be in session. 


The Past Week

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In the hectic lead up to the winter holidays my main focus was pushing paper and getting the December payroll done.  I want to thank Director of Finance Betty Casanova for the great work she did toward our payroll effort, as during this pay period we had to factor in staff raises retroactive to July 1 2013, and had to pay dollars out to teachers for many of the grant related responsibilities they fulfill throughout the school year.  I also want to point out that Rich Brandt and the custodial crew did great work refinishing the varsity gymnasium floor, and worked with our construction project plumbers to finally locate and repair our locker room ventilation problem.   The district very much appreciates that the GE Johnson was so willing to solve the problem and pay for the repair.  

The Week Ahead

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I will spend time this week preparing for Friday’s All Valley PLC work that will take place in Sanford on Friday.  I will also be laying the groundwork for our region influencing the legislative session by making contacts with representatives and senators ahead of time.  On Tuesday I will participate in a meeting that may lead to Center being GED testing site.  I’ll also be spending time with building administrators  preparing for mid-year building reviews and drawing up a mid-year budget proposal for board members to consider.  

Core Beliefs

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Quite often when I am discussing the many challenges faced by the Center School District you can hear me say things like, “we have the highest at-risk population in the state of Colorado based on our percentage of free or reduced lunch students.”  At over 90%, and topped off with a 50% English language learner population, this can certainly make educating our children a bit of a challenge.  In fact, research shows the vocabulary of children who come from poor socioeconomic backgrounds lags more than a year behind that of their classmates from more affluent homes by the time they start school.  Additionally, new research findings show that children from more affluent families hear as many as 30 million more words by age 3 than children from low-income households.  

Though this is the daunting circumstance we face in Center, we as a staff simply don’t accept the socioeconomic condition of our families as an excuse that our children can’t learn, compete with other students, and achieve academically at high levels.  

As I review our district core beliefs I want to remind everyone that our prime belief is that what we do with our kids at school is THE difference maker in how much our kids learn.  Our first core belief states, “Our purpose is to increase academic achievement for ALL students.”  This doesn’t mean only well-to-do students.  This means ALL students, no matter their socioeconomic or language background.  Our second core belief states, “With our support ALL children can achieve at high levels and be successful in life.”  This goes to the root of our belief that it is what we do at school that makes the difference in how much our children learn.  Our third core belief focuses on our work ethic and the way we do things.  It states, “Quality planning, instruction, and assessments lead to high achievement for ALL students.”  This means we know we have to prepare diligently, teach effectively, and continually measure what our students learn in order to meet their individual instructional needs.  In order to do this well we must all follow our fourth core belief, “EVERYONE must be committed to excellence in ALL they do EVERY day.” 

Thanks for listening once again.  

George