Vol. 11, Num. 2
Kids Korner
Information Board
Parking Lot F.A.Q.
Lost and Found
Field Trips
Coyote Creek
Leadership Team
Coyote Creek
School Advisory Council
We
have received the results from last spring’s CSAP testing!
Now we have this additional data to use in our continued planning
for this school year.
Test scores are compared from year to year; there are two
main ways that we look at these comparisons. One way is to compare, for
example, fifth grade scores from year to year. While that gives us valuable
information, it’s like comparing apples and oranges: it’s
a comparison of different groups of students from year to year. Another
way to compare is to look at the same group of students from year to
year, as they progress through the grades. We call this “longitudinal” comparison,
and we really look at these numbers because they can show us if a group
of students is showing continuous progress as they move from grade to
grade. You can find our current longitudinal data inside this issue of
The Chronicle.
Coyote Creek continues to score well. However, we believe
that we can always get better. Our philosophy in regard to CSAP (or any
other assessment) is that, while it is an important part of our reality,
it does not serve as the “driver” behind the way we do business.
We do not believe in “teaching to the test” just so we can
score high. We believe it is not fair to our students to push for higher
scores or ratings by the state for the sake of looking better. We believe
that continuously improving instruction, based on research and established
Best Practice, will result in authentically higher scores.
So we are now taking the data from CSAP and joining it with
the results of our Standards checks from the end of last year to develop
our 2005-06 School Improvement goals and strategies. Watch for this information
in our Annual Report, which is sent to parents with the State Accountability
Report.
We are looking forward to the insights we will find in these
CSAP results, and tackling them head on. It’s always a challenge
to provide top-notch instruction, but our staff is dedicated to meeting
that challenge, even though it changes in some ways from year to year.
And we always appreciate the support our parents provide for their children – that
support is a huge contributor to the high rate of learning we see in
our students every day. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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Readers are encouraged to submit items for this column. Often we at school
do not know the accomplishments of students outside school. Please include
your phone number so we can reach you if we need more information.
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INFORMATION
BOARD
This is a current listing of all items that can be found
on our Information Board, which is located just outside the Music
Room. While this is handy
for those who are able to be in the school frequently,
we know that there are parents whose schedules just do not allow
them to be here often.
The listing we are providing will give all parents an
opportunity to see what is available, and they can have their student
pick up any of
the items from the main office, or parents can call our
office (303-387-6175) to “order” items that can then
be sent home with their student.
Bonfils Blood Center
Boy Scout Information
Child Health Plan of Colorado
Douglas County Youth Activities Guide
Douglas County Schools Annual Report
Douglas County Schools Education Options
Girl Scout Round-up
Kids 411 Magazine
Lunch Menu – August
School Pool (Ride Arrangers)
*Boldface items are new items.
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FAQQ. I don’t believe the PTA should have to be responsible for raising and paying $90,000 for a new parking lot. Isn’t there some other way to take care of this problem?
A. I totally agree that PTA should not have to pay this huge amount of money for the parking lot.
Due to the unsafe traffic situation around our school, PTA has frequently asked if they can contribute financially to the solution. Historically, I have declined for just the reason you state in your question. There are so many other things they can—and do—contribute to our school for a much more efficient use of their funds which, ultimately, come from our parents and community at large.
However, I have a concern around the fact that the longer the unsafe conditions remain, the higher the odds that a child might be injured, or worse. This is compounded by the frustration around the lack of concern on the part of other entities outside Coyote Creek that could help us solve the problem, but will not. So when PTA asked again to help, I took them up on their offer with the proviso that we would take one step at a time.
Our first step was to contract with a company that would survey our situation and make suggestions for solutions. That company’s suggestion had a price tag of almost $200,000!! It was pretty easy to cut most of the expensive pieces of their proposal, and get it down to the $90,000. But that’s still a lot of money! So the reconfiguration of the parking lot is now on hold. We are also researching ways to procure the funding for this project without our PTA being saddled with such a bill. It is very difficult to justify using several years’ worth of fundraising for this one project. We have decided that they will continue to support school efforts toward the parking lot, but the school will not expect them to channel all their resources into this project. Consequently, the funds raised during the 2004-05 school year is currently being used to purchase needed items for the school, as always. Watch the PTA newsletter for reports on what Coyote Creek has received through these funds.
Also watch Thursday Folders for flyers announcing current meetings of Coyote Creek parents who are trying to assist the school in finding a solution to our traffic situation. Our first meeting was on July 19; our next meeting is scheduled for August 22 at 6:30 p.m. All parents are welcome to attend!
Lost & FoundCheck our Lost and Found barrels near Door #4 (by the cafeteria). There are many lunch boxes and miscellaneous coats and jackets to be found there! Girl Scout Troop 1676 will be emptying the contents for donation to a local charity the week of June 6th.
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August
22 2 A & C
Denver Botanic Gardens
Sept. 2 6 ABC
Denver Zoo
Sept. 16 3 C & D
Museum of Nature and Science
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Coyote Creek Leadership Team
Jan Dow- principal
Kristi Montagrifff- Assistant Principal
Kit Orlowski- Building Resource Teacher
COYOTE CREEK SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
The School Advisory Council for Coyote Creek meets on the third Tuesday of every month, with the exception of December, June, and July. Current members of the Coyote Creek SAC are:
Voting Members:
Jamie Lavigne
Geniene Moore
Lisa Kounter
Colleen Thompson
Leeanne Super
Sally Helblig
Michelle Haider
Kathy Mallory
Julie Hayes
Jennifer Murtha
Jan Dow
Nonvoting Members:
Kristi Montagriff
Kit Orlowski
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