An article appeared in a December issue of Time Magazine titled, “How to Bring our Schools Out of the 20th Century”. It addresses the fact that change in education usually does not occur quickly and that in today’s world there are skills that our students need to be learning now to adequately prepare them for the world outside the schoolhouse walls.
Last Friday I spent the day at ThunderRidge High School as a judge for the Senior Projects. Watching those young people, and knowing what goes on in Coyote Creek classrooms, I am convinced that we have begun to meet the challenge set forth in the Time article.

I quote:

For the past five years, the national conversation on education has focused on reading scores, math tests, and closing the “achievement gap” between social classes. This [article] is not a story about that conversation. This is a story about the big public conversation the nation is not having about education, the one that will ultimately determine not merely whether some fraction of our children get “left behind” but also whether an entire generation of kids will fail to make the grade in the global economy because they can’t think their way through abstract problems, work in teams, distinguish good information from bad or speak a language other than English….Competency in reading and math—the focus of so much No Child Left Behind (NCLB) testing—is the meager minimum. Scientific and technical skills are, likewise, utterly necessary but insufficient. Today’s economy demands not only a high-level competence in the traditional academic disciplines but also what might be called 21st century skills. Here’s what they are:
Knowing more about the world…

Thinking outside the box…
Becoming smarter about new sources of information…
Developing good people skills…

About a year ago, Douglas County Schools adopted an Ends Statement—a statement that describes what we want our students to take with them when they graduate, which means that those skills need to be addressed from the moment a child enters a Douglas County school. You can find a copy of this Ends Statement within the pages of this issue of the Chronicle. Please take the time to read this information—you will find concepts and language similar to those recommended in the Time article. And you can access the Time article in its entirety at www.time.com.

Here’s to preparing our children for the world that awaits them!

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Sara and Jeffrey (both 6B) participated in Destination Imagination with a Ranch View Middle School Team and won First Place for their challenge in the Regional Competition. This qualified them to compete at the State Tournament April 28 at the University of Denver. The team’s challenge was “Switching Traditions”, and they met that challenge by making a presentation about experiencing world traditions through our senses.

The competition was very tough, but the team did a great job--they qualified to go to the Global Finals at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville on May 22-27! This team is the ONLY Highlands Ranch Team (including all Elementary and High School Teams) to make it to the Global Finals for ANY of the five challenges this year. WOW!!!!!

Congratulations to Sara and Jeffrey for their hard work and creativity!

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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Sport Stacking
Congratulations to the following Coyote Creek students who competed in this year’s World Sport Stacking Championships held at the Denver Coliseum April 14th and 15th: Gianmarco , Joseph , Andy , Colton , Segovia , Cady , Sebastian , Katja , Bryce , Jack , Daniel , Kellon , Erin , Kyle , Bailey , Gabby , Carson , Cydney , Brandon , and Ceci.

This year’s tournament had over 1,100 competitors from across the United States and six foreign countries (England, Germany, Australia, Japan, Canada, and Columbia). ESPN was there again this year filming a one-hour special to air this summer or fall. Be sure to look for our Coyote Creek competitors on TV!

Coyote Creek won a total of 10 medals in the following events:

Individuals: Our youngest stacker, Daniel (preschool division - age 4) placed 4th in 3-3-3 and 5th in 3-6-3. Kellon placed 7th in both 3-6-3 and cycle. Erin was 9th in 3-6-3, and Katja was 10th in 3-3-3.
Team medals: Colton , Bryce , Kellon and Carson placed 4th in the 3-6-3 relay and 4th in cycle relay. Cady , Katja , Erin and Cydney placed 4th in the cycle relay and 4th in the timed 3-6-3 relay.

Thanks to every competitor for all their hard work and great sportsmanship.

Best wishes go to our out-going 6th graders – Cady , Katja Kleih, Erin and Cydney . Their participation and hard work over the years has been appreciated and we’ll miss you -- good luck at Ranch View!
For the rest of our stackers -- see you again in November!

Student Council Spirit Week Results


WE’VE GOT SPIRIT! YES, WE DO! WE’VE GOT SPIRIT, HOW ‘BOUT YOU?
In April, Student Council sponsored a fundraiser for the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesbury, CO. The goal was to raise $400.00. We exceeded our goal and there will be a conga line in the halls of Coyote Creek. More importantly, we raised enough money to adopt a tiger, a leopard, and a wolf for a year at the sanctuary. Thanks for your support!

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. 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 themain office, or parents can call our office to “order” items that can then be sent home with their student .

• Bonfils Blood Center
• Cub Scouts
• Child Health Plan of Colorado
• Health One Magazine
• RVMS Peek at the Pack
• RVMS Success in the Middle
• Regis University Summer Reading Program

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Field Trips

May 9 6A
Lockheed Martin
May 11 3 ABC
Teikyo Loretta Heights
May 16 2 AC
Denver Zoo
May 21 4 ABCD
Molly Kathleen Old Mine
June 7 1 BD
Downtown Aquarium
June 7 2 BD
Denver Zoo
June 7 K BCD
Denver Zoo

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Lost and Found

Be sure to check out the Lost and Found by door #4 (Cafeteria). There are many lunch boxes, coats and jackets to be found there.

Coyote Creek Leadership Team


Jan Dow- Principal
Kristi Montagrifff- Assistant Principal
Kit Orlowski- Building Resource Teacher

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Coyote Creek S.A.C.
The School Advisory Council for Coyote Creek meets on the third Monday of every month, with the exception of December, June, and July. Current members of the Coyote Creek SAC are:

Chairperson________________
Vice-Chair________________
Recorder ________________
PTA Liason________________
DAC________________
DAC ________________

Voting Members:
Lisa Kounter
Kathy Mallory
Mike Gilchrist
Colleen Thomspon
Kim Adair
Laura Richards

Nonvoting Members:
Kristi Montagriff
Kit Orlowski