Great Things Going On Now
This week I want to take a moment to thank our District Nurse, Alice Burch, for the great job she did screening all our kids in the district last week. This is a gigantic task, but she organized it well and provided a great service to our children by identifying various student needs.
I also want to thank Center High School Band Director Kate Newmyer for once again having our music crew march in the Veterans Day parade. I have heard many appreciative comments by community members. They are always proud to see our colors and kids in the local parades.
This Past Week
On Monday I had the opportunity to be on campus to catch up on a lot of paperwork and participate in some classroom walkthroughs for the purpose of supporting improved instruction.
On Tuesday I attended the San Luis Valley Superintendent Advisory Council meeting in Alamosa. We also had a BEST Healthcare Program meeting afterward. Our monthly District Accountability Meeting took place in the early evening and our monthly BOE meeting followed at night.
On Wednesday I made an appearance at the Skoglund Middle School-Center High School Building Leadership Team meeting in the morning where the work being done was to prepare the staff for Professional Learning Community work surrounding multiple student engagement strategies. I then participated in the Haskin Elementary Building Leadership Team where decisions were made on an action plan to improve school behavior management processes. Our weekly construction meeting followed this in the afternoon and then our quarterly District Leadership Team meeting took place in the late afternoon. At this meeting we reviewed district progress toward the achievement of our instructional improvement plan. Finally, in the evening, I hosted a new teacher induction session.
I traveled to Denver on Thursday to attend a session where Lobato v Colorado lawsuit participants began drafting standards for an acceptable solution to the case, should the plaintiffs win. I attended this meeting with Anthony Lobato, the lead plaintiff in the case, and felt goose bumps on my arms when at the end of the session he was introduced to the room full of participants and received a rousing ovation.
I had plans to stay in Denver on Friday because I had to be there for a meeting on Saturday. My first plan for Friday was to attend a Colorado School Finance Project meeting but this was cancelled when everyone realized it was planned Veterans Day. Plan B was to attend the Pike Peak Superintendent’s Advisory Council meeting, but this was cancelled too, for the same reason. I then got an invitation to attend the COSPRA (Colorado School Public Relations Association) conference in Lakewood and was happy to participate because I also got the chance to meet with Representative Tom Massey, Chairman of the House Education Committee, while I was there.
I spent Saturday at Oz Architecture Studio in Denver, participating in a committee formed to decide on awards for architects and construction firms related to school construction projects during the past year.
On Tuesday I attended the San Luis Valley Superintendent Advisory Council meeting in Alamosa. We also had a BEST Healthcare Program meeting afterward. Our monthly District Accountability Meeting took place in the early evening and our monthly BOE meeting followed at night.
On Wednesday I made an appearance at the Skoglund Middle School-Center High School Building Leadership Team meeting in the morning where the work being done was to prepare the staff for Professional Learning Community work surrounding multiple student engagement strategies. I then participated in the Haskin Elementary Building Leadership Team where decisions were made on an action plan to improve school behavior management processes. Our weekly construction meeting followed this in the afternoon and then our quarterly District Leadership Team meeting took place in the late afternoon. At this meeting we reviewed district progress toward the achievement of our instructional improvement plan. Finally, in the evening, I hosted a new teacher induction session.
I traveled to Denver on Thursday to attend a session where Lobato v Colorado lawsuit participants began drafting standards for an acceptable solution to the case, should the plaintiffs win. I attended this meeting with Anthony Lobato, the lead plaintiff in the case, and felt goose bumps on my arms when at the end of the session he was introduced to the room full of participants and received a rousing ovation.
I had plans to stay in Denver on Friday because I had to be there for a meeting on Saturday. My first plan for Friday was to attend a Colorado School Finance Project meeting but this was cancelled when everyone realized it was planned Veterans Day. Plan B was to attend the Pike Peak Superintendent’s Advisory Council meeting, but this was cancelled too, for the same reason. I then got an invitation to attend the COSPRA (Colorado School Public Relations Association) conference in Lakewood and was happy to participate because I also got the chance to meet with Representative Tom Massey, Chairman of the House Education Committee, while I was there.
I spent Saturday at Oz Architecture Studio in Denver, participating in a committee formed to decide on awards for architects and construction firms related to school construction projects during the past year.
Big Things We Are Working On Now
The biggest items we are currently addressing in the district are getting new board members oriented to their upcoming work, meeting with Teacher Association leaders to determine this year’s salary levels, and making sure staff members understand our lockdown and evacuation procedures, as we will practice a full campus evacuation in the coming week.
Construction News
Construction is progressing as planned, though recent snowfalls have caused a bit of a slowdown on roof construction. Windows have been ordered for the building and will soon be ready for installation but hurricanes and snowstorms on the east coast have caused our order to be delayed just a bit. Another big decision we have to make soon is related to the type of hand dryers we will purchase for our bathrooms. We are looking for something high quality and long lasting, but with a consideration for the noise level it will produce.
Our Core Beliefs
Center Schools' core beliefs are as follows:
Our purpose is to increase academic achievement for ALL students...With our support ALL children can achieve at high levels...Quality planning, instruction, and assessments lead to high student achievement for ALL...There is NO excuse for poor quality instruction...We are preparing ALL our students to be successful in life...EVERYONE must be committed to the pursuit of excellence
In the coming weeks I will be explaining what these mean.
Our purpose is to increase academic achievement for ALL students...With our support ALL children can achieve at high levels...Quality planning, instruction, and assessments lead to high student achievement for ALL...There is NO excuse for poor quality instruction...We are preparing ALL our students to be successful in life...EVERYONE must be committed to the pursuit of excellence
In the coming weeks I will be explaining what these mean.
The Week Ahead
On Monday I’ll be attending a Haskin Elementary staff meeting about our revised discipline plan. In the middle of the day some of our administrative team we will be meeting with CDE personnel about the Haskin Transformation process. I also have a Virtual-Alternative High School PLC meeting scheduled on Monday.
We have fall salary negotiations scheduled all day on Tuesday. In the evening I will be in Alamosa to teach a BOCES Alternative Licensure class.
On Wednesday I have the pleasure of delivering a speech to the middle-high student body about the importance of life-long education at 8 AM. From 9 AM until Noon we’ll have our combined Monte Vista-Center Administrator PLC meeting in the Center School Board Room. Our weekly construction meeting takes place on Wednesday afternoon. Please don't forget we also have Parent-Teacher Conferences this Wednesday.
A special treat for students on Wednesday will take place when Crestone Performances will present an hour long Flamenco dancer presentation for our students in grades K-5.
I have a Denver and back trip on Thursday to attend the Colorado Association of School Executives monthly Legislative Committee meeting.
I look forward to being back in the district on Friday when Haskin Elementary staff members will be participating in a Lindamood-Bell staff development day. School will take place as usual in grades 6-12 on this day.
Please don't forget there will be no school for all students from Monday November 21st through Friday November 25th in honor of our Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanks for listening and have a great week.
George
We have fall salary negotiations scheduled all day on Tuesday. In the evening I will be in Alamosa to teach a BOCES Alternative Licensure class.
On Wednesday I have the pleasure of delivering a speech to the middle-high student body about the importance of life-long education at 8 AM. From 9 AM until Noon we’ll have our combined Monte Vista-Center Administrator PLC meeting in the Center School Board Room. Our weekly construction meeting takes place on Wednesday afternoon. Please don't forget we also have Parent-Teacher Conferences this Wednesday.
A special treat for students on Wednesday will take place when Crestone Performances will present an hour long Flamenco dancer presentation for our students in grades K-5.
I have a Denver and back trip on Thursday to attend the Colorado Association of School Executives monthly Legislative Committee meeting.
I look forward to being back in the district on Friday when Haskin Elementary staff members will be participating in a Lindamood-Bell staff development day. School will take place as usual in grades 6-12 on this day.
Please don't forget there will be no school for all students from Monday November 21st through Friday November 25th in honor of our Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanks for listening and have a great week.
George