school choice expo

2 Longmont Times-Call Publication December 1 & 2, 2010

Kristi RitterSpecialty Publications

[email protected]

303-684-5275

Summer StairSpecialty Publications

Associate [email protected]

720-494-5429

Contributing WritersLauren Feighery and Anna Taylor

On the CoverDesign by Paul McNeill

Check out the digital edition atw w w. t i m e s c a l l . c o m / m a g a z i n e s . a s p

Tuesday, December 7, 20104 to 7 p.m.

Plaza Conference Center1850 Industrial Circle, Longmont

Behind the Plaza Hotel

With so manychoices in education,parents need to takethe time to find theperfect fit for theirchildren inacademics andenrichment activities.This School ChoiceExpo publication andexpo gives parentsinformation aboutpublic and privateschool options in theSt. Vrain andBoulder Valley areas.

Expo Vendors

Alpine ElementaryProviding students in preschool through

fifth grade an education through theInternational Baccalaureate Primary YearsP ro g r a m .

Altona MiddleA leadership focused school where

individual students create their ownopportunities through core, enrichmentand extracurricular achievement.

Black Rock ElementaryGifted and talented, world languages

focus school.

Blue Mountain ElementarySchool of science, technology and

inquiry serving preschool through fifthgrade.

Boulder County Day SchoolAn accredited independent school

serving students preschool through eighthgrade. BCD provides a traditional, yetcontemporary and rounded educationdistinguished by academic excellence,social development and citizenship.

Brain in a BagA revolutionary, new set of tools to

enable anyone and everyone to become awhole brain thinker. This will become aneducational tsunami that will sweep theworld.

Burlington ElementaryCurriculum support enhances and

challenges all levels of literacy education.

Carbon Valley AcademyMission is to provide rich content and

solid skills instruction for preschoolthrough eighth grade in an environmentthat champions character and personalacademic achievements.

Career Development CenterOffers St. Vrain students classes that are

related to actual working environmentswhere they explore today’s industries usingcurrently utilized equipment.

Centennial ElementaryA Mathematics, Engineering, Science

Achievement (M.E.S.A) focus school.Curriculum designed to teach 21st centurywork force skills and project based learning.

Central ElementaryProvides students in preschool through

fifth grade an education through theInternational Baccalaureate Primary YearsP ro g r a m .

Coal Ridge MiddleLocated in Firestone, and serving the

Frederick, Firestone and Dacono areas,CRMS aims to provide a successfullearning experience for all students.

Colorado ChiropracticFree chair massage and stress testing

will enhance holiday coping capabilities.Learn strategies to handle the holidaysb e t t e r.

Columbine ElementaryA bilingual school that celebrates

d i v e r s i t y.

Dawson SchoolDawson is a kindergarten through 12th

grade school that prepares students forwhat the world demands – diverse back-grounds, diverse ideas and global views.

Desiterata SchoolOffering independent study through a

private school. Accredited and recognizedby the Department of Education.

Eagle Crest ElementaryPre-kindergarten through fifth grade

school with a focus on leadership and 21stcentury skills.

Erie Elementary No. 26Opening in the fall of 2011, this school

will offer both core knowledge and St.Vrain Valley curriculum strand in a state ofthe art facility.

Erie ElementaryA Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics (STEM) focus schooldesigned to actively engage students whoexplore, experiment, problem solve and

invent through integrated instruction.

Erie High SchoolA small school atmosphere that allows

staff to concentrate on academic needs ofevery student. Block scheduling maximizeslearning.

Erie MiddleTo educate every student in a respectful,

caring and learning environment thatcelebrates success and honors everyindividual.

Faith Baptist SchoolA traditional college-prep Christian

school serving the Longmont area since1971.

Fall River ElementaryA neighborhood elementary school of

400 to 500 students, grades pre-kinder-garten through fifth grade. The schoolmotto is The Courage to Be Outstanding.

Flagstaff AcademyPre-kindergarten through eighth grade

charter school focusing on core knowledgewith emphasis in science and technology.

Frederick ElementaryPre-kindergarten through fifth grade

neighborhood school that focuses oneducational excellence.

Frederick High SchoolDedicated to creating relevant relation-

ships that will create rigorous instruction.Advanced placement, honors and CU GoldPrograms. Frederick High has a strong co-curricular and extra curricular activities.

Fr i e n d s ’ SchoolPreschool and kindergarten through

fifth grade independent school. A support-ive, dynamic community committed toeducating the whole child – head, handand heart.

Gateway Montessori SchoolA member of the American Montessori

Society, Gateway Montessori offers aprimary program for 3-, 4- and 5-year-oldswhich includes an extended day forchildren in their third year.

December 1 & 2, 2010 Longmont Times-Call Publication 3

Heritage MiddleThe IB Middle Years Program provides

students with a rigorous, well-roundedand internationally-focused education.

Hygiene ElementaryIntegrated academic arts focus school.

Utilizes an arts approach while adheringto adopted district curriculum.

Huntington Learning CenterOffering skills tutoring and ACT/SAT

prepared based on individual studentneeds.

Imagine Charter School at FirestoneICSF is a kindergarten through eighth

grade charter school with a preschool/pre-kindergarten program. Imagine usesthe core knowledge curriculum with aclassical approach.

Indian Peaks ElementaryA bilingual elementary school located

in southwestern Longmont with a strongacademic history and a diverse learningc o m m u n i t y.

Legacy ElementaryPrograms address students’ social,

emotional and academic needs.

Loma Linda ElementaryA bilingual math/science focus school.

A partnership with CU Boulder GraduateSchool of Engineering provides additionalmath and science experiences. LomaLinda also offers MESA, Student Counciland other opportunities to preparestudents for a rigorous middle and highschool experience.

Longmont BracesOrthodontic practice specializing in or-

thodontics for children, teens and adults.

Longmont Estates ElementaryCreating learning experiences to help

each child be successful. A longhistory of excellence and compassion.

Longmont High SchoolAn honors and advanced placement

focus school committed to meeting theneeds of all students.

Longs Peak MiddleA pre-advanced placement focus school

utilizing the springboard AP math andlanguage arts curriculum.

Lotus School for Excellence at LongmontA kindergarten through eighth grade

math, science and technology charterschool.

Lyons ElementaryContinuously focused on supporting

all students with achieving their highestpotential. Developing 21st centurycompetencies in critical thinking,problem solving and collaboration.

Lyons Middle/ High SchoolThis small school has big academic

results. In addition, the high school ACTscores were in the top 10 of all publicschools in the state.

Mead ElementaryOffers a rich pre-kindergarten through

fifth grade education using state stan-dards and district adopted curricula toenhance learning opportunities for allstudents.

Mead High SchoolIgnite, inspire and challenge – The

Mead High Feeder System: Small Schoolswith Big Expectations.

Mead MiddleThe Mead High Feeder System: Small

Schools with Big Expectations.

Messiah Lutheran SchoolAffordable, quality Christian education

for preschool through fifth grade.

Mountain Peak Private SchoolOffering classes for preschool through

sixth grade, Mountain Peak PrivateSchool focuses on educating the wholechild with small classes and individual-ized curriculum.

Mountain View ElementaryEncourages all students to reach their

academic, social and emotional potential.

New Leaf ChiropracticNew Leaf’s mission is to help as many

people as possible live life to the fullest,especially kids.

Niwot ElementaryDifferentiated instruction focus school

to create multiple pathways to students ofdifferent abilities, interest or learningneeds experience equally appropriateways to learn.

Niwot High SchoolRecognized for advanced placement,

honors and international baccalaureateprograms, as well as strong co-curricularand extra curricular activities.

Northridge ElementaryYour friendly neighborhood, bilingual

elementary school with some of the mostdedicated, caring staff you’ll find.N o rt h r i d g e ’s goals are high achievementfor all students.

Olde Columbine High SchoolNon-traditional school which values

individuality and diversity. Small, self-paced classes offer opportunities for allstudents to achieve their full potential.

Our Savior’s Lutheran SchoolOffering rigorous academic programs

and Biblical instruction beginning withage 3 through eighth grade.

Prairie RidgeStaff focuses on student achievement

academically and socially. Prairie Ridge isa Positive Behavior School wherePRIDE=Success. MESA programs offeredduring and after school.

Rocky Mountain Christian AcademyA classical and Christian school

dedicated to equipping students to impacttheir world for Christ by igniting a life-long passion to pursue truth, goodnessand beauty.

Rocky Mountain ElementaryA school focused on preparing students

from a variety of backgrounds for successin the 21st century.

St. Vrain Community MontessoriProvides authentic Montessori

education in a public charter school. TheMontessori school currently servespre-kindergarten through third grade andwill add a grade each year until we servethrough sixth grade.

St. Vrain Valley Adult EducationOffering educational opportunities for

adult learners wishing to improve theirEnglish language skills and/or earn a highschool diploma.

St. Vrain Valley School DistrictStudent Services

Encompasses many programs: specialeducation, gifted and talented, earlychildhood/preschool, speech, hearing,vision and district health services.

St. Vrain Valley School District LearningServices

Provides support to principals, staff,students and parents at all St. Vrain

schools. Oversees numerous programsand departments.

St. Vrain Valley School District NutritionServices

Information on school district wellnessand nutrition programs.

Sanborn ElementaryA neighborhood school that provides a

welcome environment that caters to allability levels. The dedicated staff believesthat high expectations, an active andengaging environment, and a full comple-ment of extra opportunities is the recipefor success.

Shepherd Valley Waldorf SchoolShepherd Valley educates children for

the whole of life, using the curriculumand educational principles of Waldorfeducation, so they become confident indi-viduals, capable of making free choices,able to realize their full potential andinspired to make a difference in the world.

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Silver Creek High SchoolA comprehensive high school that with

a leadership focus excels academicallyand in extracurricular programs.

Skyline High SchoolSTEM and VPA academies, FRCC pro-

gram, honors certification and AP program.

Spangler ElementaryThe mission of Spangler is to establish

a learning community which focuses onhigh academic achievement, studentengagement, and partnerships amongfamily, community and school.

Sunset MiddleA focus school on advanced academics

with an emphasis in the arts.

Tiny Tim CenterProvides comprehensive early child-

hood education and therapeutic servicesto assist each student in reaching his orher highest potential.

Trail Ridge MiddleDedicated to teaching 21st century

skills and knowledge. Trail Ridge isfocused in Science, Technology, Engineer-ing and Math (STEM) with a GlobalCompetency strand.

Twin Peaks Charter AcademyThe academy will be expanding to

include a high school in the fall of 2011.Twin Peaks will add grades 9 and 10 andcontinue to expand through 12th grade.

Universal High SchoolAn alternative pathway to a high

school diploma that is student-centered,standards-based and rigorous.

Westview MiddleDesignated technology focus middle

school.


Spark your child’sinterests outsidethe classroom

By Anna Taylor

Longmont Times-Call

Throughout Boulder County, there are a multitude ofafter-school programs to suit any of your child’s inter-ests.

For elementary-age, the vast majority of the publicschools work through the Community School program,which supplies before and after-school care, as well asenrichment programs for students. These programs in-clude everything from choir and dance to karate ands o c c e r.

Susan Zimmerman, the Community Schools coordi-nator for the St. Vrain Valley School District, says eachof the programs differs depending on the area they arelocated. “The ins and outs are really based on the schoolc o m m u n i t y, ” she explains. “The staff really focus oncreating a program that meets the needs of the commu-n i t y. ”

Zimmerman also says the programs emphasize whatshe calls “invisible learning.” The concept employs pro-jects that teach the children while allowing them tohave fun. Schools such as Central Elementary in Long-mont incorporate science projects into their after-school programs to facilitate this type of learning. “It’san extension of the school day, but we don’t want it tofeel that way for the children,” she says.

Many of these after-school child-care services can al-so be found in the private elementary schools in thearea. For example, the Friends’ School in Boulder pro-vides after-care and enrichment programs that run afterschool until 5:30 p.m. These enrichment classes mayinvolve activities such as chess club or cooking andvary from day to day.

The Friends’ School also involves parents in activitiessuch as spelling and geography bees. “They are for thekids who really like it and want to compete with it,” ex-plains Kathy Sherwood, director of student services atFriends’ School.

Sherwood also explained that they try to keep thestudent-to-teacher ratio extremely low. “It’s typically a

10-to-1 ratio,” she explains. “We always have at leasttwo staff people since there are usually about 20 stu-dents in the class.”

As children get older, the after school activities movemore toward sports and club activities. Dennis Daly,principal of Niwot High School, says the school offers avariety of after school sports and clubs that revolvearound the student’s interests. “The kids are really thepulse behind the school. They’re the ones that drive theclubs with their interests,” he explains.

A group of students get together with a shared inter-est and propose the creation of a club based around thatinterest. Then, the school officials put the kids in con-tact with a teacher or staff member to sponsor the club.

The school offers everything from Amnesty Interna-tional to the Swashbuckler’s sword fighting club to theNiwot Knitters who make hats for cancer patients. “Alot of it goes as the wind blows,” Daly says. “It ebbs andflows depending on the kids and the teachers involved.”

For the more sports-oriented child, there are a multi-tude of sports activities and dance teams throughout thedistrict. Of course there are traditional team sports,such as football and soccer, but there are also a varietyof specialty sports clubs that students can become in-

volved with.

Patrick Bacalis from Lyons Middle/Senior HighSchool began a mountain bike racing club specificallyfor those students who wanted to pursue a sport thatwas not traditionally offered in the school.

The team, which meets on Tuesday and Thursday,was started a year ago when one of Bacalis’ studentsasked if he would be willing to sponsor the team. Notonly does the team race, students also learn handlingtechniques for rocks and trails, bike maintenance andtraining tips.

“There was one parent who said that their childwasn’t interested in other traditional sports but thenthey heard about this and they were all about it,” Bacalissays.

“They don’t even have to have a bike. Between myold bikes and the parents’ we have enough gear if theyjust want to try it out,” Bacalis says. “We just want it tobe available to kids that are interested.”

Whether you’re looking for a program that facilitatesan academic focus, or merely want them to get involvedwith a group sport or club, there are a variety of optionsto suit your child’s needs and interests.

Top: Julia Frank, 6, and Quinn McIntyre, 6, help build a tower with building straws at the Friends’ School in Boulder. Above left:Central Elementary music teacher, Camilla Johnson, conducts choir practice during the schools after school program. ChescaMarienthal, 8, and Fisher Grumhaus, 8, work on a science project at the Friends’ School. (Paul Litman/Times-Call)

Childrenenjoy theirtime on theplaygroundduring anafter schoolactivity atCentralElementarySchool. (PaulLitman/Times- Call)


Jeff Ellenbogen, a teacher at Alexander Dawson School, uses a Smart Board in his class to instruct classlessons. At the end of class he can save his notes as a pdf and posts to the school website for studentsto review. (Paul Litman/Times-Call)

Tech SavvyStudents embrace technology in the classroomBy Kristi Ritter

Longmont Times-Call

Educators today realize that 21st centurylearning must consist of more than just text-books and chalkboards. In fact, a handful ofschools are replacing some textbooks withiPads, iPod Touches and Smart Boards forinteractive learning. With multimedia inter-twined with students’ lives, keeping themengaged in the classroom is a must, and thatcomes by integrating technology into learn-ing.

To d a y ’s student generation is known asdigital natives – a common phrase used forstudents who have grown up with the Inter-net and technology at their fingertips. Forolder generations, including the teachers inthe classrooms, they are referred to as digitalimmigrants as they move into the digitalworld and learn alongside many of today’syouth.

Joe McBreen, chief information officer forthe St. Vrain Valley School District whoheads up technology issues, says, “Te c h n o l -ogy isn’t an option anymore. It must be anatural part of how they learn and howteachers teach.”

The SVVSD is making many strides to in-corporate technology into classrooms. Withthe 2008 mill levy, the district and voterswere able to provide high-speed fiberopticnetworks to all schools. Now the district is

working to provide wireless connections forstudents to learn. It’s the district’s goal thatby the time every teacher returns to schoolin fall 2011, wireless connections will beavailable in every classroom. “We knowfunding in K-12 is often limited, and wedon’t have all the money in the world,”McBreen says. “But, a wireless network canallow for students and teachers to bringtheir own technology into the classroom.”

With a wireless network availablethroughout the district’s schools, studentsand teachers will be able to bring in theirown laptops and technology devices to usein the classroom. This allows learning to oc-cur throughout the day and not only whenstudents are scheduled for lab time.

“We want to create an environmentwhere learning can occur at any time, whichopens up any pace of learning,” M c B re e nsays. “Our goal is to provide the best possi-ble education for our kids.”

In addition to providing the latest tech-nologies, McBreen says one of the things thedistrict prides itself on is that it doesn’t liketo deplore technologies without a long-termcommitment to training. Providing trainingfor the teachers is just as important as get-ting the technologies and using them withinthe classrooms. Ultimately, training willhelp maximize the technologies being in-corporated.

McBreen says the district has conducted a

two-year professional development trainingmodule, allowing teachers to learn to usedevices and discover ways to incorporatethem within the classroom.

In the district, Smart Boards and SmartCarts are being used in almost every school.However, because of their heavy invest-ment, it’s not a main technology yet.

Smart Boards are an interactive white-board that uses touch detection for user in-put, similar to normal computer input de-vices, such as a mouse or keyboard. A pro-jector is used to display the computer’svideo output on the interactive whiteboard,which then acts as a large touch screen.

Smart Carts are, in essence, mobile self-contained presentation systems that allowclassrooms to connect to the Internet anduse all the items on the cart for learning.These systems have been designed to housean array of presentation technologies, whichare connected to a single projection sourcemounted on the cart. The carts often in-

clude a computer and monitor, projector,video player, speakers, USB ports, keyboardand mouse, and laptop hookups.

McBreen says that in a kindergarten class,the teacher would read to the class but laythe book under the document camera to en-large it to an 8-foot screen. A built-in speak-er allows the teacher’s voice to be amplified,which has shown to help students improvetheir test scores, teaching and learning.

At Columbine Elementary in Longmont,the Take the Teacher Home project has al-lowed students to receive a canvas bag thatcontains several reading exercises and aniPod on which teachers record lessons andread a story.

The project is making great strides inbringing below-average student readers intohigher reading levels, which allows them tobetter learn in the classroom. McBreen saysthe success of Columbine’s project hasmade it to other schools in the district thatare now using this project to help students

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dents have their iPads, they can read their book report sincethey have it with them on the iPad or they can use anotherapp.”

Having iPads at their fingertips allows students to moveforward and learn more by themselves. Many students evenseem more focused on learning because they have the tool at

Sebastian Grigore, 11, uses an iPad in his classroom at AlexanderDawson School. These technology devices were introduced thisyear as a way for students to use new technologies in theclassroom. While the school first believed the iPads would be greatfor reading, teachers have found useful apps on the tools to use inseveral classroom situations. (Paul Litman/Times-Call)

read better.Developing better readers was the goal at Alexander Daw-

son School in Lafayette when the school went searching foran eReader. At the same time, the iPad came out and al-lowed for even more learning.

Jeff Ellenbogen, middle school technology coordinator atAlexander Dawson School, says they have about 90 fifth-and sixth-graders, as well as about 15 teachers, using iPadsin the classroom to read and do other assignments.

When it was first decided to incorporate the iPads,Ellenbogen says, the teachers researched apps out therethat could be used within other classes. Now, the musicteacher is using music apps to learn how to play the xylo-phone, the science teacher is recording data from experi-ments and math teachers are using the iPad to do assign-ments via iXL.

Some teachers are even using eClickers on the iPads tocreate questions students can see on their own iPads. Teach-ers will then get a graph of every child’s response to ques-tions, allowing for greater interaction within the entireclassroom. It allows teachers to make sure all students areunderstanding subjects before moving on to a new topic.

Fifth-grade teacher Brenda Lord says using the iPads hasbeen a lot smoother than she thought it would be. Nowshe’s using it almost every day.

“Students always finish assignments at different times,and sometimes it can be problematic keeping students quietwhile others finish,” she says. “However, now that the stu-

their fingertips.

Librarian Cindy Stahoviak says because students havetheir own iPads and can access their own library homepageand not have to partner up with another student, theirlearning has seen greater gains. “They are better digestingwhat we are teaching them about library research skills,” shesays.

Ellenbogen uses a Smart Board in his classroom and findsit useful for recording class notes. At the end of a class, hesaves his notes as a pdf that he can post to the schoolwebsite. It’s a great opportunity for kids to review topics, orif someone is sick they can pick up that day’s lesson.

In the lower school classes at Alexander Dawson, teachersand students are using iPod Touches to record studentsreading aloud.

Beth Gagne, lower school media specialist, says the goalof this is to help students improve literacy, while also usingapps to work on students’ phonetics. “The world languageclasses are recording their voices and replaying them so theycan hear how they are pronouncing the language,” she says,adding that second-grade classes are watching videopodcasts on the world’s oceans to enhance their sciencecurriculum.

Overall, Ellenbogen says, the use of these new technolo-gies has given teachers more opportunities to customizelearning. “It makes students feel like they’re being treatedi n d i v i d u a l l y, ” he says.

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Right: Sixth grader Amelia Roth, 13, works on math problems duringAltona Middle School’s after school tutoring program, while MeaganHudek, a Para instructor helps sixth grader Sam Biles, 12, withfractions. Below: Tyler Templeton, 13, gets tutoring help in geometryfrom teacher Joshua Haginduff, who heads up Altona’s after schooltutoring program. (Paul Litman/Times-Call)

Left: Maddie Doering from Lyons Middle/Senior School saw the importance of tutoring and started aprogram this fall to help other students. (Lauren Feighery/Times-Call) Right: Matteo Ambriz, 13, getstutoring help from Silver Creek High School senior Dylan Hensley. Hensley helps out tutoring for hisvolunteer services in the National Honor Society. (Paul Litman/Times-Call)

Tutoring may give students the boost needed to excelBy Lauren Feighery

Longmont Times-Call

The words look like an alien languagespread out on the page, the fractions don’tequate to a rational number and the CivilWar reads anything but civil. Students canoften feel this way when learning and pro-cessing new information becomes confusingor overwhelming. Though, tutoring canhelp fix the problem.

“Tutoring helps you reach your full po-tential. I feel every student at one point feelslost or overwhelmed and short-term tutor-ing can help,” says Kathy DeMatteo, ownerand director of the Longmont Tutoring Clubin Longmont.

Some clear or subtle signs that your childmight need tutoring include a disinterest inschool, low grades and a lack of confidencein the classroom. “In those early years, achild should love school because everythingis new. If they’re not excited, that’s a warn-ing sign they may be struggling,” DeMatteosays.

Regina Reneldi, executive director of pri-ority programs at the St. Vrain Valley SchoolDistrict, encourages reading as a founda-tional building block for students. When astudent feels apathetic toward reading or theschool notifies a family about a child’s aca-demic struggles, Reneldi says tutoring maybe able to give the student a boost. She ad-vocates extended school year programs asher preferred choice of action. All Title 1schools in the SVVSD (schools with a pre-dominance of low-income students), pro-vide free tutoring programs after school for

those receiving free lunch.Success is important for any student’s fu-

ture, and getting there doesn’t have to be adifficult process. “At any age, if your childfeels as if they can’t (succeed), that confi-dence issue can really hold them back. Ifyou’re not a good student, it limits yourability to be a good productive adult in soci-e t y, ” according to DeMatteo.

Jake Leyba, assistant principal at AltonaMiddle School in Longmont, stresses the fo-cus changed from teachers teaching to stu-dents learning. At Altona, tutoring programsbefore school, after school and a homeworkclub during lunch encourage the new focus.“You have to provide extra opportunities forstudents who aren’t learning,” Leyba says.

A decline in work or lack of motivation

could be an indicator that a child needs tu-toring. Some schools provide Infinite Cam-pus and Virtual Campus online for parentsto check if their child is struggling academi-cally. The Infinite Campus can be found atthe SVVSD website if it’s a public school,and the Virtual Campus can be found onspecific schools’ websites.

Infinite Campus provides a child’s atten-dance and grades, as well as a listing of hisor her teachers. Virtual Campus provides astudent’s homework, class activities, calen-dar of events and specific course work foreach class. Both online systems require ausername and password geared toward par-ents. Leyba says his teachers update VirtualCampus sometimes daily, depending on thecourse. “It really works when parents take

advantage of it,” he says.Once you’ve determined a student needs

extra help, you can find tutoring in almostany subject, including English, math, histo-ry, some language courses and science.

Tutoring programs range from teachers,counselors, independent professionals andstudents tutoring other students. “D i ff e re n ttutoring centers have different styles oflearning. You have to find what works bestfor your child,” DeMatteo says.

At Lyons Middle/Senior School in Lyons,junior Maddie Doering saw the importanceof tutoring and started a program this fall.The tutoring program is called HelpMateand incorporates students helping students.Initially, Doering expected to see more mid-dle schoolers seek help, but surprisinglyhigh school students have taken advantageof the tutoring program. With the afflux offlyers and forms Doering made, word gotout at Lyons. “It (HelpMate) just took offsuddenly and it’s only been a month,” shesays. With individualized folders andnotepads for the tutors, Doering wants thetutoring program to be more personalized.First, the tutors and those needing tutoringmeet and get to know each other, hence thenotepad. Then the tutoring begins.

With the help of tutoring, the alien lan-guage on the page will make sense, the mathfractions won’t seem so daunting and diffi-culty with history will seem like a thing ofthe past.

“When kids start being confident in theclassroom, they start being successful in thec l a s s ro o m , ” DeMatteo adds.


Professional development importantto public, private school teachersBy Summer Stair

Longmont Times-Call

Despite the plethora of schools parentshave to choose from, the overlying goal isgetting their kids a good education.

Both public and private schools under-stand the importance of this and not onlylook for well-qualified classroom teachers,but often encourage a sense of professionaldevelopment and continuous education tokeep teachers up-to-date on specific sub-jects and teaching techniques.

“What we expect is the whole notionaround combining those factors that matter– these are specific teaching requirementsand the connection they have with kids ”says David Burnison, assistant superinten-dent of human resources for the St. VrainValley School District.

The SVVSD requires all teachers to behighly qualified. This often amounts to afour-year bachelors degree from an accred-ited university, as well as a state licensure inthe area they want to teach. Burnison sayswhile education degrees are what mostteachers come out of school with, manyuniversities are changing their curriculumfor teachers to focus more on the area theyplan on teaching along with a teacherpreparation program. This ensures that theteachers are the best-of-the best in theirfield, and have an understanding of whatteaching looks like. “You have to knowboth sides,” he says. “Just because youknow all about a subject doesn’t mean youcan apply it and teach it.”

Burnison believes the district has a leg upbecause there is a sense of accountability

for teachers. The district also has structuresoutlined that they have to live up to. Stateand federal requirements, such as No ChildLeft Behind, also plays an important rolewithin the public school system.

Overall, no matter the education the “a rtof teaching” is what is most important.“The best-of-the-best teachers are thosewho can build relationships with kids andthen know what they’re talking about,”Burnison says. “It’s not just about deep,rich content, but that they must have a pas-sion and compassion to teach and learn.”

While specific education requirementsand showing that you can teach a specificsubject while relating to children is impor-tant for any teacher, the district has severalprofessional development and continuouslearning courses put into place to keepteachers abreast on current research andt re n d s .

Lory Courtney, director of professionaldevelopment for the SVVSD, says continu-ous and job embedded learning is extreme-ly beneficial not only for the teachers, butthe students, too.

All new teachers to the school district gothrough induction courses and receive asupport person who helps them throughouttheir first year teaching. Other offerings in-clude professional development courses fornovice and experienced teachers.

These courses often can go toward staterequirements on keeping certifications up-to-date and include some form of follow-upcomponent to make sure what the teachersare learning is being applied in the class-room, says Kathi Jo Walder, lead inductioncoach for the SVVSD.

“The follow-up and ongoing support, aswell as accountability is important,” C o u rt -ney says. “In the district, we are all workingtoward similar goals.”

Teachers within the district also have in-dividual goals associated with the schoolthey teach with that align with those thedistrict has set into place. “I m p ro v e m e n tplans are so focused that professional devel-opment and learning is applied daily,”Walder says.

Although part of the school district,charter schools are not forced to follow the

Shepherd Valley Waldorf School fifth gradeteacher Jan Miller teaches science while applyingwriting techniques to the class. Top: ShepherdValley Waldorf School seventh grade teacherSandra Kirschuer goes over the lines to the play“Eleanor of Aquitaine” with Sophia Masotti, 12,and Xander Pickard, 12. (Paul Litman/Times-Call)

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same guidelines for teacher hiring. Burni-son says to be an established charter school,it must be part of a district, but are allowedto follow its own guidelines. These guide-lines are set individually by each charterschool.

While some charter schools may followthe same guidelines as SVVSD when hiringteachers, not all do. Burnison says it is im-portant when looking at different schools tofind out what kind of requirements teachershave to meet to ensure your kids are goingto get a solid, well-rounded education.

Having a solid education and the mostup-to-date information and certifications,as well as an accreditation through the As-sociation of Christian Schools Internationalis what Longmont Christian School re-quires of its teachers. “The ACSI helps usstay with our roots and supports our Chris-tian world view,” says Donnie Bennett,Longmont Christian principal.

Aside from the extra certification, Ben-nett says teachers at Longmont Christianare “not that much different” from those inthe public school system.

Shepherd Valley Waldorf School in Niwotis a little different than the school districtand Longmont Christian, but still has spe-cific requirements teachers must meet.

Linda Abelkis, administrator at ShepherdValley Waldorf, says all classroom teacherseither have a bachelors degree in a relatedfield they teach or some form of Waldorf

teacher training, which can be a three- tofour-year program. The school also strivesfor its teachers to stay with their classroomof kids from first through eighth grade, sothe education teacher’s have must be well-rounded and continuous at all times.

“Teaching in a Waldorf school is an artform and it really does help teachers stressthemselves personally,” Abelkis says. “Wa l -dorf training is a profound change socially,academically and artistically and it is anamazing education for the teachers, aswell.”

A Waldorf education is based on a pro-

found and deep understanding of child-hood development and requires teachers tohave specific training for each grade theyteach, Abelkis says. Because of the yearlychanges, ongoing training is essential forteacher’s at Shepherd Valley.

While Abelkis stresses that each school isdifferent in what kind of continuous educa-tion teacher’s go through, Shepherd Valleyoffers a strong mentoring program that eachteacher, no matter how long they havetaught, go through. “Every teacher regard-less of their experience level have a mentorand once a week meet to share things they

are working on and to get a fresh outsideperspective,” Abelkis says.

Other offerings to Waldorf teachers in-clude conferences and week-long intensivetraining at Waldorf Teacher Training Cen-ters.

No matter the school a parent choosesfor their kids’ education the importancethat the district and each private schoolplaces on continuous learning and profes-sional development in the classroom guar-antees teacher’s with a well-rounded educa-tion and the most current knowledge ofteaching techniques.

From left: SandraKirschuer, reads linesfrom the play“Eleanor ofAquitaine,” to herclass duringrehearsals. Jan Millergoes over classmaterial with ArielGarcia-Perez, 11.(Paul Litman/Times- Call)

Gateway Montessori SchoolPreschool and Kindergarten

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1500 9th Avenue, Longmont CO 80501303 772-3864

www.gatewaymontessorischool.netgmschool1002@qwestoffi ce.net

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Open House for Fall 2011 Enrollment Sundays, January 23rd and February 6th, 1-3 PM

Reaching further to help all childrenThe Tiny Tim Center focuses on social-emotional,language, cognitive self-help and fine-gross motor skills growth and development forchildren of all abilities. Through our therapeutic and educational programs we offer: • High quality preschool program with NAEYC accreditation• Services to children from newborns to 12 years of age• Low adult-to-child ratios• Occupational, physical and speech therapy in natural or center-based se�ings• Therapy sessions for individuals, small groups or multidisciplinary focus

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175 North 96th Street Louisville, CO 80027 (303) 666-1950 www.treehouselearning.com

• Individualized learning environment• Academic and enrichment curriculum• Small classes, certified teacher• Full and extended day programming

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Call to schedule a personal visit. Check our website for Open House dates.

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Mountain Peak Private SchoolLongmont has an affordable private school option.

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At Mountain Peak our students bring diverse backgrounds, both academic and cultural, to the classroom. Our teachers bring passion, energy, and enthusiasm. Small class size and individualized curriculum address

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Independent SchoolsAlexander Dawson School10455 Dawson DriveLafayette, CO 80026303-665-6679w w w. d a w s o n s c h o o l . o r gKindergarten through grade 12Headmaster: Brian JohnsonEnrollment: 450Type: Collegiate based private schoolBixby School4760 Table Mesa DriveBoulder, CO 80305303-494-7508w w w. b i x b y s c h o o l . o r gPre-kindergarten through grade fivePrincipal: Pat BakerEnrollment: 160Type: PrivateBloom! Montessori School701 James St.Longmont, CO 80501303-776-8173bloommontessori.comAges 2 through 6Director: Abigail MillerEnrollment: 12Type: MontessoriBoulder Country Day School4820 Nautilus Court N.Boulder, CO 80301303-527-4931w w w. b o u l d e r c o u n t r y d a y. o r gAge 3 through grade eightHead of School: Michael ShieldsEnrollment: 315Type: PrivateBoulder Jewish Day School7415 Lookout RoadLongmont, CO 80503303-449-5569w w w. b j d s . o r gPre-school through grade fiveHead of School: Daniel BennettEnrollment: 30Type: Private Jewish Community SchoolBridge School6717 S. Boulder RoadBoulder, CO 80303303-494-7551w w w. b r i d g e s c h o o l b o u l d e r. o r gGrades six through 12Head of School: David HazenEnrollment: 22Type: PrivateBroomfield Academy7203 West 120th St.Broomfield, CO 80020303-469-6449w w w. b r o o m f i e l d a c a d e m y. c o mJunior kindergarten through grade sixHead of School: Patricia GarnerEnrollment: 104Type: PrivateCatalyst Education of Colorado2575 Park Lane, Suite 100Lafayette, CO 80026303-604-6512

w w w. c a t a l y s t e d u . o r gGrades nine through 12Head of School: Ed PorrittEnrollment: 30Type: Private nonprofitChildren’s House of Weld County:Montessori Preschool &Kindergarten3801 Godding Hollow PkwyFrederick, CO 80516303-651-3215w w w. c h i l d r e n s h o u s e w c . c o mPreschool through kindergartenDirector: Susan HalkinEnrollment: 30Type: MontessoriCornerstone Preschool1000 W. 15th Ave.Longmont, CO 80501303-776-3081w w w. b e t h l e h e m - l u t h e r a n . n e t / c o r n e r s t o n eAges 3 to 5Director: Andrea BeckerEnrollment: 48Type: ChristianDesiderata SchoolMailing: 15785 N 83rd St., Longmont, CO80501School site: 1445 Nelson Road, Longmont,CO 80501303-678-9335w w w. d e s i d e r a t a . o r gKindergarten through grade 12Head of School: Larame SpenceEnrollment: 50Type: PrivateEastern Sun Academy6717 S. Boulder RoadBoulder, CO 80303303-443-3302w w w. e a s t e r n s u n a c a d e m y. o r gKindergarten through grade fiveHead of School: Dr. Spencer EdmundsEnrollment: 85Type: Contemplative educationFaith Baptist School833 15th Ave.Longmont, CO 80501303-776-5677http://fbslongmont.orgKindergarten through grade 12Administrator: Dan PerrymanEnrollment: 163Type: Private ChristianFr i e n d s ’ School5465 Pennsylvania Ave.Boulder, CO 80303303-499-1999w w w. f r i e n d s s c h o o l b o u l d e r. o r gPre-school through grade fiveHead of School: Polly DonaldEnrollment: 172Type: Independent private schoolGateway Montessori School1500 Ninth Ave.Longmont, CO 80501303-772-3864http://gatewaymontessorischool.net

Pre-school through kindergartenDirector: Linda GottschalkEnrollment: 50Type: American Montessori Society certifiedGoddard School1095 Olympia Ave.Longmont, CO 80501303-772-3501w w w. g o d d a r d s c h o o l . c o mInfant through kindergarten, after schoolDirector: Rebecca HallType: Early childhood developmentHillside School6717 S. Boulder RoadBoulder, CO 80303303-494-1468w w w. h i l l s i d e l e a r n i n g . o r gGrades one through nineDirector: Kathy ShermanEnrollment: 32Type: Program for students with learningdifferencesJarrow Montessori School3900 Orange CourtBoulder, CO 80304303-443-0511w w w. j a r r o w. o r g18 months through grade sixHead of School: Barb TruanEnrollment: 160Type: MontessoriLongmont Christian School550 Coffman St.Longmont, CO 80501303-776-3254w w w. l o n g m o n t c h r i s t i a n . o r gPre-kindergarten through grade 12Principal: Donnie BennettEnrollment: 278Type: Private ChristianMessiah Lutheran School1335 Francis St.Longmont, CO 80501303-776-3466w w w. m l c s l o n g m o n t . o r gPreschool through grade fivePreschool Director: Joli RobbinsInterim Principal: Don WischmeyerEnrollment: 71Type: Private ChristianMount Zion Lutheran School1680 Balsam Ave.Boulder, CO 80304303-443-8477w w w. m t z i o n b o u l d e r. o r gToddlers through kindergartenEC Director: Cheryl WuEnrollment: 50Type: Private LutheranMountain Shadows Montessori4154 63rd St.Boulder, CO 80301303-530-5353w w w. m o u n t a i n s h a d o w s . o r gPre-school through grade sixSchool Director: Jan FerwerdaEnrollment: 66Type: Montessori

Mountain Peak Private School1833 Sunset Place, Suite E & FLongmont, CO 80501720-494-1622w w w. m o u n t a i n p e a k s c h o o l . c o mPre-school through grade sixDirector: Bobby TabertEnrollment: 76Type: PrivateOur Savior’s Evangelical LutheranSchool1219 W. 17th Ave.Longmont, CO 80501303-776-1688w w w. O u r S a v i o r s O n 1 7 t h . o r gAge 3 through grade eightPrincipal: Dane MattesEnrollment: 25Type: Parochial schoolThe Patchwork School in Louisville1428 Main St.Louisville, CO 80027720-271-6729w w w. t h e p a t c h w o r k s c h o o l . c o mPreschool through grade threeDirectors: Michele Beach and Elizabeth BakerEnrollment: 60Type: Independent alternativePrimrose School of Longmont1335 Dry Creek DriveLongmont, CO 80503303-774-1919w w w. p r i m r o s e s c h o o l s . c o mInfants through preschool and kindergarten,before and after school programDirector: Carrie DickersonEnrollment: 180Type: Private PreschoolRocky Mountain Christian Academy9447 Niwot RoadNiwot, CO 80503303-652-9162w w w. r m c a o n l i n e . o r gEarly education through grade eightHeadmaster: Brett KingEnrollment: 350Type: Christian ClassicalRunning River School1370 Forest Park CircleLafayette, CO 80026303-499-2059w w w. r u n n i n g r i v e r. o r gKindergarten through grade eightDirector: Nancy MonsonEnrollment: 25Type: PrivateSacred Heart of Jesus CatholicSchool1317 Mapleton Ave.Boulder, CO 80304303-447-2362w w w. s h j b o u l d e r. o r gPreschool through grade eightPrincipal: Mary BartschEnrollment: 390, includes early learning centerType: Private Catholic


St. John the Baptist CatholicSchool350 Emery St.Longmont, CO 80501303-776-8760w w w. j o h n t h e b a p t i s t . o r gPreschool through grade eightPrincipal: Julie RossiEnrollment: 388Type: CatholicSt. Stephens Christian School1303 S. Bross LaneLongmont, CO 80501303-776-1072 ext. 5w w w. s t s t e p h e n s l o n g m o n t . c o mPreschool and pre-kindergartenDirector: Kathy FultonEnrollment: Ratio of 1 to 7Type: Private ChristianSeptember High School1902 Walnut St.Boulder, CO 80302303-443-9933w w w. s e p t e m b e r s c h o o l . o r gGrades nine through 12Principal: Celeste Di IorioEnrollment: 40Type: Non-Profit Alternative/PrivateShepherd Valley Waldorf School6500 W. Dry Creek ParkwayNiwot, CO 80503303-652-0130w w w. s h e p h e r d v a l l e y. o r gPre-kindergarten through grade eightPrincipal: Linda AbelkisEnrollment: 121Type: Private

Shining Mountain Waldorf School999 Violet Ave.Boulder, CO 80304303-444-7697h t t p : / / s m w a l d o r f. o r gPreschool through grade 12School Director: Sue LevineEnrollment: 275Type: Waldorf schoolTara Performing Arts High School4180 19th St.Boulder, Co 80304303-440-4510w w w. t a r a h i g h s c h o o l . o r gGrades nine through 12Administrator: Gregory FisherEnrollment: 46Type: Private/Waldorf schoolVista Ridge Academy3100 Ridge View Dr.Erie, CO 80516303-828-4944w w w. v r a k 1 2 . o r gKindergarten through grade 12Principal: Carol SchneiderEnrollment: 130Type: Private ChristianWatershed School205 Canyon Blvd.Boulder, CO 80302303-440-7520w w w. w a t e r s h e d s c h o o l . o r gGrades six through 12Head of School: Jason BervEnrollment: 62Type: Private nonprofit

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Looking for a unique education?

Shepherd Valley Waldorf Schoolis home to experienced teachers,

a rich curriculum, and unique teaching methods.

www.ShepherdValley.org303-652-0130

Founded in 1993

“What I have seen as auniversity professor in Waldorfgraduates is a certain opennessto new subject matter and new ideas, and an activeengagement in their own learning.”– College Professor of English

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Aspen Ridge Preparatory School offers: • Small School Atmosphere• Limited Class Sizes• Rigorous Academics using the

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Learning and Growing Together on the Trail of Success...


Schools in the St. Vrain Valley School DistrictAlpine Elementary2005 Alpine St., Longmont, CO 80501720-652-8140http://aes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Deanna FrothinghamOctober 2010 enrollment: 523Black Rock Elementary2000 Mountain View Blvd., Erie, CO 80516720-890-3995http://bres.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Cathy O’DonnellOctober 2010 enrollment: 761Blue Mountain Elementary1260 Mountain Drive, Longmont, CO 80503720-652-8220http://bmes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Kristie VenrickOctober 2010 enrollment: 487Burlington Elementary1051 S. Pratt Parkway, Longmont, CO 80501303-776-8861http://bes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Janis HughesOctober 2010 enrollment: 472Centennial Elementary10290 Neighbors Parkway, Firestone, CO80504, 720-652-8240http://centenniales.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Keith LiddleOctober 2010 enrollment: 546Central Elementary1020 Fourth Ave., Longmont, CO 80501303-776-3236http://centrales.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth grade, bilingualPrincipal: Jim HecocksOctober 2010 enrollment: 445Columbine Elementary111 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont, CO 80501303-776-2840http://columbinees.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth grade, bilingualPrincipal: Eddie ClokeOctober 2010 enrollment: 361Eagle Crest Elementary4444 Clover Basin Drive, Longmont, CO80503, 303-485-6073http://eces.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Ryan BallOctober 2010 enrollment: 528Erie Elementary4137 E. County Line Road, Erie, CO 80516303-828-3395http://ees.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Amanda SauerOctober 2010 enrollment: 643Erie Elementary #261500 Telleen Ave., Erie, CO 80516303-828-3391

w w w. s t v r a i n . k 1 2 . c o . u s / e 2 5Pre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Cyrus WeinbergerOpening fall 2011Fall River Elementary1400 Deerwood Drive, Longmont, CO80501, 720-652-7920http://fres.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Jennifer GuthalsOctober 2010 enrollment: 494Frederick Elementary555 Eighth St., Frederick, CO 80530303-833-2456http://fes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth grade, bilingualPrincipal: Karen MusickOctober 2010 enrollment: 551Hygiene Elementary11968 N. 75th St., Longmont, CO 80503720-652-8021http://hes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Mike O’DonnellOctober 2010 enrollment: 426Indian Peaks Elementary1335 S. Judson St., Longmont, CO 80501303-772-7240http://ipes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth grade, bilingualPrincipal: Judy OrbanoskyOctober 2010 enrollment: 493Legacy Elementary7701 Eagle Blvd., Frederick, CO 80504720-652-8160http://legacyes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Sean CoreyOctober 2010 enrollment: 557Loma Linda Elementary333 E. Mountain View Ave., Longmont, CO80501, 303-772-4280http://lles.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten though fifth grade, bilingualPrincipal: Dina Perfetti-DeanyOctober 2010 enrollment: 444Longmont Estates Elementary1601 Northwestern Road, Longmont, CO80503, 720-652-8101http://lees.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradeInterim Principal: Jennifer Chadwich-ConwayOctober 2010 enrollment: 505Lyons Elementary338 High St., Lyons, CO 80540303-823-6915http://lyonses.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Christa KepplerOctober 2010 enrollment: 286Mead Elementary520 Welker Ave., Mead, CO 80542970-535-4488http://mes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Connie Brodt

October 2010 enrollment: 507Mountain View Elementary1415 14th Ave., Longmont, CO 80501720-652-8261http://mves.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Nancy PitzOctober 2010 enrollment: 382Niwot Elementary8778 Morton Road, Niwot, CO 80503303-652-2828http://niwotes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: Mike KepplerOctober 2010 enrollment: 477Northridge Elementary1200 19th Ave., Longmont, CO 80501303-772-3040http://northridgees.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth grade, bilingualPrincipal: Lorynda SampsonOctober 2010 enrollment: 390Prairie Ridge Elementary6632 St. Vrain Ranch Blvd., Firestone, CO80504, 720-494-3641http://pres.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth grade, bilingualPrincipal: Kirsten McNeillOctober 2010 enrollment: 408Rocky Mountain Elementary800 E. Fifth Ave., Longmont, CO 80501303-772-6750http://rmes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth grade, bilingualPrincipal: Stephen HoelOctober 2010 enrollment: 435Sanborn Elementary2235 Vivian St., Longmont, CO 80501303-772-3838http://sanbornes.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth gradePrincipal: John WahlerOctober 2010 enrollment: 451Spangler Elementary1440 Collyer St., Longmont, CO 80501720-494-3761http://spangleres.stvrain.k12.co.usPre-kindergarten through fifth grade, bilingualPrincipal: Michelle JohnstoneOctober 2010 enrollment: 396Altona Middle4600 Clover Basin Drive, Longmont, CO80503, 720-494-3980http://ams.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades sixth through eightPrincipal: Joe MehslingOctober 2010 enrollment: 643Coal Ridge Middle6201 Booth Drive, Firestone, CO 80504303-833-4176http://crms.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades six through eightPrincipal: Brian YoungOctober 2010 enrollment: 823Erie Middle650 Main St., Erie, CO 80516

303-828-3391http://ems.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades six through eightPrincipal: Todd BissellOctober 2010 enrollment: 524Heritage Middle233 E. Mountain View Ave., Longmont, CO80501, 303-772-7900http://hms.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades six through eightPrincipal: Karrie BorskiOctober 2010 enrollment: 427Longs Peak Middle1500 14th Ave., Longmont, CO 80501303-776-5611http://lpms.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades six through eightPrincipal: Mathew BuchlerOctober 2010 enrollment: 450Mead Middle620 Welker Ave., Mead, CO 80542970-535-4446http://mms.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades six through eightPrincipal: Josh BarnettOctober 2010 enrollment: 381Sunset Middle1300 S. Sunset St., Longmont, CO 80501303-776-3963http://sms.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades six through eightPrincipal: Dawn MacyOctober 2010 enrollment: 603Trail Ridge Middle1000 Button Rock Drive, Longmont, CO80501, 720-494-3820http://trms.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades six through eightPrincipal: Tim RootOctober 2010 enrollment: 632Westview Middle1651 Airport Road, Longmont, CO 80503303-772-3134http://wms.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades six through eightPrincipal: Mark SpencerOctober 2010 enrollment: 598Lyons Middle/Senior100 S. Second Ave., Lyons, CO 80540303-823-6631http://lmshs.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades six through 12Principal: Greg WingerOctober 2010 enrollment: 441Erie High3180 WCR 5, Erie, CO 80516303-828-4213http://ehs.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades nine through 12Principal: Steve PayneOctober 2010 enrollment: 760Frederick High600 Fifth St., Frederick, CO 80530303-833-3533http://fhs.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades nine through 12


Principal: Pete VargasOctober 2010 enrollment: 806Longmont High1040 Sunset St., Longmont, CO 80501303-776-6014http://lhs.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades nine through 12Principal: Rick OlsenOctober 2010 enrollment: 1,222Mead High School12750 WCR 7, Longmont, CO 80504720-494-3940w w w. s t v r a i n . k 1 2 . c o . u s / s c h o o l s / m h s /Grades nine through 12Principal: Jim SundbergOctober 2010 enrollment: 488Niwot High8989 E. Niwot Road, Niwot, CO 80503303-652-2550http://nhs.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades nine through 12Principal: Dennis DalyOctober 2010 enrollment: 1,284Silver Creek High4901 Nelson Road, Longmont, CO 80503720-494-3721http://schs.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades nine through 12Principal: Sherri SchumannOctober 2010 enrollment: 1,057Skyline High600 E. Mountain View Ave., Longmont, CO80501, 720-494-3741http://shs.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades nine through 12Principal: Patty QuinonesOctober 2010 enrollment: 1,230Adult Education820 Main St., Longmont, CO 80501303-678-5662http://ae.stvrain.k12.co.usInterim Coordinator: Joann DaweOctober 2010 enrollment: 166Olde Columbine High School /Career Development Center1200 S. Sunset St., Longmont, CO 80501720-494-3961, 303-772-3333 (CDC)http://ochs.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades nine through 12Principal: Deniece CookOctober 2010 enrollment: 116 Olde

Columbine, 543 Career Development

Universal High School4901 Nelson Road, Longmont, CO 80503720-494-3721http://uhs.stvrain.k12.co.usGrades nine through 12Coordinator: Mary KennedyOctober 2010 enrollment: 26

Carbon Valley Academy4040 Coriolis Way, Frederick, CO 80504303-774-9555w w w. c a r b o n v a l l e y a c a d e m y. o r gPre-kindergarten through grade 8Principal: Jere Pearcy, elementary; TerryWalsh, secondaryOctober 2010 enrollment: 456

Flagstaff Charter Academy1841 Lefthand Circle, Longmont, CO 80501303-651-7900w w w. f l a g s t a f f a c a d e m y. o r gKindergarten through grade eightPrincipal: Andrew MooreOctober 2010 enrollment: 815

Imagine Charter School atFirestone5753 Twilight Ave. Firestone, CO 80504,303-772-3711w w w. i m a g i n e f i r e s t o n e . c o mPre-kindergarten through grade eightPrincipal: Ralph GarbartOctober 2010 enrollment: 617

St. Vrain Community MontessoriSchool1055 Delaware Ave., Longmont, CO 80501Phone: 303-682-4339Pre-kindergarten through grade fourHead of School: Katie TorresOctober 2010 enrollment: 138

Twin Peaks Charter Academy340 S. Sunset St., Longmont, CO 80501303-772-7286w w w. t w i n p e a k s c h a r t e r. o r gKindergarten through eighthPrincipal: BJ BuchmannOctober 2010 enrollment: 707

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PRESCHOOL THROUGH 8TH GRADE

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� Colorado’s only Montessori School fully accredited

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[ages 6-9] and Elementary II [ages 9-12]

�

� Programs for Half-day, All-year, 9 month, and

extended hours

� Teachers average over 15 years Montessori experience

� 10:1 ratio for Primary classrooms and 15:1 for

Elementary classrooms

� Individual child-focused guidance developing a life-

long love of learning

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Article Resource Association

Whether their child is intimidated by ablank page or can express himself well onpaper, parents are always looking for waysto help kids improve their writing skills.Writing proficiency not only helps makechildren more successful in their studiesnow, but can also make them more confi-dent and successful as adults.

From e-mail and texting to text booksand even video games, children need to readand write well every day. Parents can do alot to help kids nurture good writing skillsat any age. From speech recognition soft-ware to popular word games, here are sometactics parents can use.

Write and ReadChildren who read a lot can naturally de-

velop an affinity for writing. Parents whoread to children when they are youngshould encourage them to strike out ontheir own as they grow older. It’s easy tofind plenty of age-appropriate material forchildren in elementary, middle school andhigh school. Many schools and teachersmaintain lists of recommended reading ontopics and subjects to satisfy every interest.

Encourage children’s natural curiosityabout writing by giving them fun opportuni-ties to practice. Does your middle-schoolerlove comic books? Suggest he create hisown, complete with colorful artwork andscript. You can find software programs andonline websites to help.

Choose board games and video gamesthat incorporate word play, such as Wheel ofFortune, Scrabble or Boggle. Create a family

message board in the kitchen and ask eachfamily member to write something abouttheir day on the board every evening; notonly does this encourage kids to practicewriting, it can help parents keep in touchwith what kids are doing. You can also en-courage children to keep a journal of theirdaily activities, or jot down their observa-tions in a notebook when they travel on va-cation.

The Verbal FactorMost children, like most adults, can think

and speak more clearly and naturally thanthey can type or write. Speech recognitioncan help students who may feel over-whelmed when faced with a blank screenand a blinking cursor. The software can helpthem put their thoughts into words withoutgetting hung up on the process of typing orwriting, and can make it easier for childrento complete homework assignments that

they may have struggled with before. Writ-ing becomes a more natural process, allow-ing the student to just say what is on his orher mind and have it appear almost immedi-a t e l y.

Products such as Dragon NaturallySpeak-ing help to address the needs of students inmiddle school through college age with spe-cial features like a “teens” accent model thatis tuned to the voice patterns of youngerspeakers. Students who have struggled withthe written word in the past often report arenewed enthusiasm for writing when usingspeech recognition products such as Dragonthat transcribe the spoken word almost in-stantly – three times faster than typing. Visitwww.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking to learnmore about Dragon.

Like any skill, writing improves withpractice. Parents should help children seekout and enjoy every opportunity to practicewriting in fresh, fun ways.

Kids need to developwriting skills early on

EMPOWERED. SELF-AWARE. PREPARED.

Our International Baccalaureate Middle Years curriculum,experienced faculty, and small class size allow Boulder Country Day School students to find their passion in the classroom and in the world.

OPEN HOUSEThursday, December 2, 5-7 PM or Call us to Schedule a Personal Tour

We welcome prospective families to tour our campus and meet our faculty, students,parents, and administrators.

RSVP:(303) 527-4931 x 248

Middle School is a critical passage. We make it a journey of exploration.

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Wanted: Future Space Explorers!Wanted: Future Space Explorers!A new K-8 charter school

specializing in 21st century math, science, and technology skills is

coming to North Longmont.Applying to SVVSD for charter

approval for Fall 2011!Now accepting intent to enroll forms on

line. For more information, visit our booth at the School Choice Expo.

P.O. Box 6752, Longmont, 80501www.lotusschool.org/longmont

[email protected]

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Motivate your kids to get good gradesArticle Resource Association

Motivating your children to do well inschool can be one of the most important,yet challenging, things you can do as a par-ent. If your children are inspired at a youngage to set and achieve long-term goals, andearn good grades in the process, they’remore likely to succeed in the future. But ig-niting that spark is no easy task. Perhaps inaddition to giving praise and a hug for goodgrades, you take them out to dinner or totheir favorite amusement park. But cash andmaterial items might be more motivational,a recent online poll indicates.

A majority of kids and parents backed“earning for learning.” In fact, three out offour kids, and 60 percent of parents agreethat incentives can help reinforce good be-havior while helping children learn aboutmoney, according to the poll of more than1,200 parents and children conducted bythe Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s fi-nancial literacy website, Themint.org.

When asked which incentives might mo-tivate kids, children and adults combinedagreed that physical motivators like cashrewards (19 percent) and desired items (23percent) like clothes, games or an iPod weremore influential than experiential incentiveslike a special dinner at a favorite restaurant(12 percent) or a trip to a theme park, waterpark or other attraction (4 percent).

Parents may be encouraged to hear thatkids ranked parents’ praise and encourage-ment comparably to cash rewards or desireditems, garnering 27, 25 and 33 percent sup-port, respectively.

“Parents should take away from this themessage that their praise and the positiveexamples they set are powerful in shapingkids’ long-term habits, and rewards can pro-vide extra inspiration for some students tosucceed when it comes to report cards,” saysJanie Schiltz, vice president of Northwest-ern Mutual.

Praise and rewards often work hand-in-hand. For adults in the workforce, pay-checks and performance bonuses are great

motivators, but praise and encouragementare also important parts of job satisfactionand can be drivers for good performance.Kids aren’t so different – many likely needboth intrinsic and extrinsic rewards to feel afull sense of achievement.

If you decide to provide rewards forschool success, think about sitting downwith your kids at the beginning of theschool year or semester to agree about theirgoals and the rewards they’re eligible to re-

ceive.

When all is said and done, of course, thedecision is personal. While the Northwest-ern Mutual Foundation survey showed thatparents and kids nationwide favor reportcard rewards, the results shouldn’t be seenas a “one size fits all” answer. Every child isunique, so parents should consider incen-tives that work best for their family.

Here are some tips to consider:

• Start by focusing on what you will re-

ward. Is it focused on a specific grade? Im-provement? Effort? An accomplishment?What is the timeline – the full school yearor will you offer quarterly incentives?

• If you have more than one child, do youhave different expectations for each child?What you expect for one child may not bethe same expectations for a different child.

• Talk to your children. Explain the ex-pectations and the rewards. If a child under-stands what is expected and what the re-ward might be, he is far more likely to workfor the reward.

• What kind of reward are you negotiat-ing? The rewards may depend on the child.If your family does not eat out often, andthe child thinks a restaurant is a big deal, al-lowing the child to choose a restaurant as areward might be a great incentive. For otherchildren, financial rewards or prizes may bea better choice. Choose a reward that youare comfortable with providing, and that isappropriate for the expectations and thetimeline.

• If your child receives a weekly al-lowance, consider a “bonus” for the child.For example, if the child receives a $5 perweek allowance, give her an extra $5 as aone week bonus.

3 0 3 . 4 9 9 . 1 9 9 9 f r i e n d s s c h o o l b o u l d e r . o r g5 4 6 5 P e n n s y l v a n i a A v e . B o u l d e r , C O 8 0 3 0 3

4th grade self portrait 5th grade self portrait

Accepting applications

for 2011-2012

Preschool th rough F i f th Grade

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w w w . o u r s a v i o r s o n 1 7 t h . o r g

NCPSA Accredited

1221 W. 17th Ave.Longmont, CO 80501

303-776-1688

Our Savior’sLutheran Preschool and School

It is our goal to assist parents in the nurturing of their childrenIt is our goal to assis

the nurturing o

SpirituallyIntellectuallyPhysically

andSocially

Age 3 through 8th Grade

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1445 Nelson RoadLongmont, CO

Smart Call.303-651-0800

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CHOOSINGEXCELLENT

TOBE

St. Vrain Students onthe Path to Success

“I came to ‘Mines’ completely prepared:the value of an Erie High diploma is upthere with the best schools in the state.”Robert Grumet ERIE ‘09 Gates Millennium Scholar Colorado School of Mines

“There were just a lot of great people at Frederick High who were willing to go above and beyond to push me, sup-port me, and encourage me.”Kelley Ritz, FREDERICK ‘06 Boettcher ScholarUniversity of Denver

“My Longmont High teachers took apersonal interest in me. They went above and beyond to help me succeed.”

Michael Sundberg, LONGMONT ‘09U.S. Naval Center for Information Dominance

“At Silver Creek I had a combination of athletics, tough courses, and most important, the opportunity to interact with people of all backgrounds.”

Nick KoernerSILVER CREEK ‘08Stanford University

“I’m currently taking AP English, chemistry and pre-calculus to prepare for veterinary medicine at CSU. At Mead High my teachers know me and what I want to accomplish.”Greg Rademacher MEAD ‘12Member, fi rst graduating class of new Mead High School

“Niwot High demanded excellence and myteachers always encouraged me topursue my most ambitious dreams.”Angie McDermidNIWOT ’05 Boettcher Scholar, Loyola University of Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine

“As a pre-law student I’m expected towrite constantly and write well. When my professors tell me I’m a strong writer I think, thank you Skyline!”

Lupita ChavezSKYLINE ‘08 University of Colorado

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“Lyons High was a great place to prepare for college. The small school feel created an invaluable sense of community where I made great friends and deepenedmy sense of teamwork and leadership.”Andy ForsbergLYONS ‘10Berklee College of Music

St. Vrain Valley School District

www.stvrain.k12.co.us303-776-6200

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