Great Things Going On
On Saturday July 28th Center School District held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open its new school. Though much work still needs to be done, this moment offered us the opportunity to thank those who were instrumental in the realization of our project goals.
The Colorado Department of Education Capital Construction office is at the top of our thank you list. We recognize without the guidance of Kristin Lortie and Ted Hughes we never would have envisioned, designed and built such a beautiful school while also being good caretakers of taxpayer money.
The Neenan Company must be thanked because without their expert work on our facilities master plan, and their deep knowledge of the BEST grant process, we never would have qualified to receive our grant.
Community member Mitch Garcia and former Center school board president Janet Kuntz led the PA+SS Committee (People Advocating Superior Schools) which purchased advertisement in support of our bond question and contacted registered voters to explain the scope of the project.
Rudy Andras from RBC Capital Markets was invaluable in structuring our bond question, making sure we were meeting the requirements of the law and communicating the actual changes which would occur in local tax rates if the election was won.
GE Johnson construction company coordinated the actual building of our project. Folks like Shannon Rogers, Mike Kosters, Chris Scovel and Paul Kosek did everything within their power to build our school as designed and to continually add value to the project. With items such as the heritage wall, a culinary arts classroom, and in-floor heating as well as a new cement parking lot at the old alternative school building we received even more than we ever hoped for.
Greg Cromer and Jay Ireland from Klipp Architecture had the task of taking our master plan concept and turning it into a truly functional school. All along the way they solicited feedback from Center Schools staff members. In the end they created a school that has great flow for student movement while also being a state of the art space for educating children. Additionally, floor mosaics, skylights and other architectural and design features make our facility better than we had ever imagined. Most importantly, Greg and Jay made certain to honor our old facility by carrying forward certain architectural features which can be found on the outer skin of the building.
The Colorado Department of Education Capital Construction office is at the top of our thank you list. We recognize without the guidance of Kristin Lortie and Ted Hughes we never would have envisioned, designed and built such a beautiful school while also being good caretakers of taxpayer money.
The Neenan Company must be thanked because without their expert work on our facilities master plan, and their deep knowledge of the BEST grant process, we never would have qualified to receive our grant.
Community member Mitch Garcia and former Center school board president Janet Kuntz led the PA+SS Committee (People Advocating Superior Schools) which purchased advertisement in support of our bond question and contacted registered voters to explain the scope of the project.
Rudy Andras from RBC Capital Markets was invaluable in structuring our bond question, making sure we were meeting the requirements of the law and communicating the actual changes which would occur in local tax rates if the election was won.
GE Johnson construction company coordinated the actual building of our project. Folks like Shannon Rogers, Mike Kosters, Chris Scovel and Paul Kosek did everything within their power to build our school as designed and to continually add value to the project. With items such as the heritage wall, a culinary arts classroom, and in-floor heating as well as a new cement parking lot at the old alternative school building we received even more than we ever hoped for.
Greg Cromer and Jay Ireland from Klipp Architecture had the task of taking our master plan concept and turning it into a truly functional school. All along the way they solicited feedback from Center Schools staff members. In the end they created a school that has great flow for student movement while also being a state of the art space for educating children. Additionally, floor mosaics, skylights and other architectural and design features make our facility better than we had ever imagined. Most importantly, Greg and Jay made certain to honor our old facility by carrying forward certain architectural features which can be found on the outer skin of the building.
We will forever be indebted to RLH Engineering’s Travis Guerrette and Derek Spinuzzi or the work they did serving as our owner’s representative. As a district, Center Schools has not had recent experience building new facilities on the scale of our current project. Travis and Derek provided the expertise we needed to make sure our architect and builders were providing us the services they promised; they coordinated the purchase of furniture and equipment and made sure we stayed within our budgetary limits. We’re sorry Derek Spinuzzi couldn’t be at our ribbon-cutting celebration, but understand his need to show up at his own wedding! Congratulations, Derek.
Many Center Schools staff members played key roles in the overall design of the building. Most specifically, Michael Lobato, Rich Brandt, Lori Cooper, Kevin Jones, Carrie Zimmerman, Kathy Kulp, Joy Werner, Chris Vance, and Betty Casanova provided countless hours of work and took time away from their day-to-day tasks to be sure we could design, build and pay for the best school possible for our children. Each of these people has a full-time job, and I know the construction process during the last eighteen months took away from time they could have otherwise spent with their families.
Finally, I would like to single out Center 2002 graduate Julio Paez. Nobody involved with the project worked harder on the details than Julio. Given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide our students with the instructional technology needed to get a 21st Century education, Julio took it upon himself to continue to maintain our former network while doting all the I’s and crossing all the T’s to ensure that our new building has the best technology equipment money can buy, and that it was installed properly.
Many Center Schools staff members played key roles in the overall design of the building. Most specifically, Michael Lobato, Rich Brandt, Lori Cooper, Kevin Jones, Carrie Zimmerman, Kathy Kulp, Joy Werner, Chris Vance, and Betty Casanova provided countless hours of work and took time away from their day-to-day tasks to be sure we could design, build and pay for the best school possible for our children. Each of these people has a full-time job, and I know the construction process during the last eighteen months took away from time they could have otherwise spent with their families.
Finally, I would like to single out Center 2002 graduate Julio Paez. Nobody involved with the project worked harder on the details than Julio. Given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide our students with the instructional technology needed to get a 21st Century education, Julio took it upon himself to continue to maintain our former network while doting all the I’s and crossing all the T’s to ensure that our new building has the best technology equipment money can buy, and that it was installed properly.
The Past Week
While much of Center Schools staff was preparing the building for our Saturday ribbon-cutting ceremony, I had the pleasure of completing my year as Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) president at it’s annual convention. In doing so, I was privileged to address the entire organization several times, to introduce numerous speakers, and present a session with Paul Worthington from Lindamood-Bell about the tremendous growth we experienced in third grade reading TCAP scores. I also was able to spend time with our administrative team and my major take-away from the gathering was that CDE is poised to do great work developing a K-12 model curriculum and we need to participate in this process.
On Tuesday, Center High School principal Kevin Jones and contracted counselor Katrina Ruggles were invited to present the high school’s success in expanding college opportunities for students. Katrina did an amazing job sharing hard statistics which show a significant increase in the number of CHS students who participate in college coursework before high school graduation and who attend college after they receive their diploma. In addition, Katrina and Kevin were able to show how this increased post-secondary participation is correlated to improved personal choices by students. I will share this information at our all staff gathering on August 10.
On Tuesday, Center High School principal Kevin Jones and contracted counselor Katrina Ruggles were invited to present the high school’s success in expanding college opportunities for students. Katrina did an amazing job sharing hard statistics which show a significant increase in the number of CHS students who participate in college coursework before high school graduation and who attend college after they receive their diploma. In addition, Katrina and Kevin were able to show how this increased post-secondary participation is correlated to improved personal choices by students. I will share this information at our all staff gathering on August 10.
Big Things We Are Working On
All school offices opened on Monday, July 30, so parents may now enroll their school-age children.
New Teacher Orientation will take place August 1 through 3.
NWEA Testing for 6th through 12th grade students who, based on TCAP results, are not required to attend Jump Start begins on Wednesday, August 1 and will take place in the Fyock Library. Students should have received letters indicating their test dates and times; please contact the middle/high school office at 754-2232 if you have any questions about this.
All teaching staff will return to work on Monday, August 6 to participate in three days of Kagan Multiple Student Engagement Strategies training.
The Center Schools traditional beginning of year all staff gathering will take place on Friday, August 10 in the commons area. The first day of school for students in grades K-5, and for middle/high students required to attend Jump Start is Monday, August 13. The first day of school for grades 6 – 12 is Tuesday, September 4.
New Teacher Orientation will take place August 1 through 3.
NWEA Testing for 6th through 12th grade students who, based on TCAP results, are not required to attend Jump Start begins on Wednesday, August 1 and will take place in the Fyock Library. Students should have received letters indicating their test dates and times; please contact the middle/high school office at 754-2232 if you have any questions about this.
All teaching staff will return to work on Monday, August 6 to participate in three days of Kagan Multiple Student Engagement Strategies training.
The Center Schools traditional beginning of year all staff gathering will take place on Friday, August 10 in the commons area. The first day of school for students in grades K-5, and for middle/high students required to attend Jump Start is Monday, August 13. The first day of school for grades 6 – 12 is Tuesday, September 4.
Construction News
Although we’ve cut our ribbon and officially opened the school, significant work needs to be done on parking lots and general grounds. The commons will be turned over to us mid-week next week, but the gym is not slated to open until mid-September.
As people have moved into workspaces, they have identified things they still need, so we are now accepting input and taking action to secure items to meet those needs. We encourage staff members to fill out the form which was recently distributed via email and forward it to Jessica Ornelas who is gathering this information. We hope staff members can be patient as we attempt to ensure everyone’s equipment needs are met.
As people have moved into workspaces, they have identified things they still need, so we are now accepting input and taking action to secure items to meet those needs. We encourage staff members to fill out the form which was recently distributed via email and forward it to Jessica Ornelas who is gathering this information. We hope staff members can be patient as we attempt to ensure everyone’s equipment needs are met.
Our Core Beliefs
During July, the district leadership team (DLT) reviewed the Center Schools list of core beliefs. Upon doing this, it was agreed they could be simplified by combining the six statements used previously, streamlining them into four. Thus the core beliefs we will focus on for the 2012-13 school year are as follows:
1. Our purpose is to increase academic achievement for ALL students
2. With our support ALL children can achieve at high levels and be successful in life
3. Quality planning, instruction, and assessments lead to high achievement for ALL students
4. EVERYONE must be committed to excellence in ALL they do EVERY day.
I’ll spend the next several weeks focusing on what these statements mean.
1. Our purpose is to increase academic achievement for ALL students
2. With our support ALL children can achieve at high levels and be successful in life
3. Quality planning, instruction, and assessments lead to high achievement for ALL students
4. EVERYONE must be committed to excellence in ALL they do EVERY day.
I’ll spend the next several weeks focusing on what these statements mean.
The Week Ahead
All school offices are now open. Our work will be focused on orienting new staff members, preparing for Jump Start, delivering staff development and opening the school for kids.
Once again, thanks for listening. I look forward to seeing all of you very soon.
George
Once again, thanks for listening. I look forward to seeing all of you very soon.
George