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November 20, 2014 VOLU M E 2 8 | I S S UE 1
HighlandsRanchHerald.net A publication of
D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
District’s ranking moves up Board president proud, but community member says academic progress remains flat By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Home Depot kids’ workshop captain Jerry Flickinger shows Ranch View Middle School students Danny Keith, left, and Justin Smith how to make a bat habitat during a class project on Nov. 14. Photo by Jane Reuter
Ranch View math lessons take wing Teacher uses bats to pique students’ interest By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com Some Ranch View Middle School students have been acting a little bit batty lately. They’re rapping about bats, designing board games about bats, building bat habitats, writing newscasts about bats, interviewing experts about bats and advocating for the protection of bats. All of it is part of a study on bat conservation initiated by their math teacher, Tiffiny Vaughn, who decided to try a highly integrated project approach at the Highlands Ranch school. She hoped it would encourage her seventh-grade students in mathematical thinking, critical analysis, creativity and innovation. The subject she chose was bats. “I can tell you, I didn’t learn math this way,” said Vaughn. “All I knew (previously) was to
teach math using the traditional textbook method. You don’t interrelate it to other subjects. “These kids are learning about cinematography, science, geographical regions of the world, the mathematical knowledge and sound frequencies bats use to communicate with each other. We’ve talked about Ebola and other communicable diseases, and how bats here in Colorado protect us from West Nile virus by eating mosquitos.” Mathematics is woven throughout the study, with students using it to learn more about hibernation, how bats’ diets play into agriculture and crop protection, and by measuring and comparing wingspans, among other subjects. “Some of the children have said, `We like math because it’s interesting now.’ It’s not just solving problem after problem,” Vaughn said. “Math can be sometimes boring, but if you can relate it to the real world, it gives you the urge to do math,” said student Danny Keith. Students conducted their own research, and chose a method for sharing their findings.
Zuriah Walsh chose to write a rap song about bats, though he admits he had misgivings initially. “At first, I thought it was a weird project; then I realized they do some pretty cool stuff,” he said. “People don’t realize how important bats are. They’re like natural pesticides. “I like music, so I thought it would be cool to incorporate that with bats. We’re going to use some software on the Apple computer, create a beat and mix it in. When it comes together, it’s going to be pretty sick.” “I thought bats were just some kind of Halloween scariness,” Justin Smith said. “Then I realized how much they mean to us.” Tara Pecha said she was always interested in bats, but now believes she wants to incorporate them into her future career. “I’m going to write a letter to Obama,” she said. “I want to influence him, his wife and his daughters to build a bat home together.” Tara and her father once helped save a young bat, which she said clung to her finger. Bats continues on Page 39
The Douglas County School District made a successful bid to elevate its state performance rating. For the first time since the 2009-10 academic year, DCSD ranks as “Accredited with Distinction” — the highest of the Colorado Department of Education’s five tiers. DCSD was among several districts that requested the state reconsider its ranking. By excluding the performance of the district’s highest-risk students and factoring in improved ACT scores and graduation rates, the CDE agreed Douglas County merited its top rating. District leaders are delighted. Those critical of its education reforms say the ranking is misleading. “Certainly to move up into that top echelon speaks wonderful volumes about our teachers, our district and our students,” school board president Kevin Larsen said. “I and the rest of the board have been confident all along this time would come, and here we are. It means we’re doing good things for kids. So let’s celebrate it, but keep pushing all of our schools to help our kids learn at an even higher level.” Strong Schools Coalition president Laura Mutton noted that while the district’s ACT composite score increased slightly from 2013 to 2014 — from 21.8 to 22.1 — scores on the last Transitional Colorado Assessment Program were flat. “I think it would be unfortunate if the district were to mislead the community into thinking their `accredited with distinction’ (means) the reforms have resulted in overall improvement in academic achievement, DCSD continues on Page 39
Battle against cancer inspires worldwide village Highlands Ranch doctor finds strength from random acts of kindness By Christy Steadman
csteadman @coloradocommunitymedia.com When Jill Pechacek refers to her village of support, she means the one that extends well past Highlands Ranch and Colorado. It hits all 50 states and spans across oceans, reaching 13 countries. Pechacek, 46, a single mother and doctor in Highlands Ranch, has been battling late-stage pancreatic cancer since her diagnosis in September. The village, consisting of people performing random acts of kindness, is what gives her strength. “Acts of kindness should be a part of life — part of our normal routine,” Pechacek said. “Everyone should have that village, not just people who are sick.” Pechacek is sick — her cancer has advanced to Stage 4. But she’s determined to conquer this fight for her three children. “God’s got this,” she said. “It’s out of my control, but I think God means for me to be here for a while.” The random-act-of-kindness village grew out of a CaringBridge page set up by
Pechacek’s sister, Holly O’Keefe. O’Keefe’s 5-year-old son was diagnosed with brain cancer in November 2011, and after his diagnosis, a friend set up a CaringBridge page for him. CaringBridge is a great way to communicate with a large group, O’Keefe said. Then Pechacek posted the Dr. Jill Pechacek 29:11 Challenge on the page. “She wanted it to be something bigger than herself,” O’Keefe said. “Something good out of something bad.” The Dr. Jill Pechacek 29:11 Challenge calls on participants to perform 29 random, but purposeful, acts of kindness within 11 days. The challenge is based on Jeremiah 29:11, a Bible verse in which the Lord declares “plans to give you hope and a future.” It’s caught on. A company in Iowa City noticed the big response on CaringBridge and offered to set up and manage a Facebook page for the challenge, which, in three weeks as of Nov. 17, had received more than 850 likes. High school sports teams and clubs, church groups and business offices are accepting the challenge. They come from Littleton, Arapahoe and ThunderRidge high schools and also as far away as China. One person wrote about a woman who was working for $1 a day, and the act of Dr. Jill continues on Page 36
Dr. Jill Pechacek pictured with her three children, from left, Hawk, 12, Brooks, 10, and Hope, 8. Pechacek is battling late-stage pancreatic cancer, but is determined to conquer the disease to be there for her children. Courtesy photo