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Peak Inside September 2019
In this issue ... -District Operations & Facilities Update -VoW Annual Survey Completed
-Training for D49 Paraprofessionals -Fantastic 49 Honorees
Special Sightings Across District 49
Top left, then clockwise: 1) For the second year, Stetson Elementary School won the “Golden Sneaker� Award for the 2019 D4.9K Run/Walk Sept. 14. The award went to the school with the highest number of participants at the event. 2) National Honor Society students hosted a table at the POWER Zone Community BBQ Aug. 23 at Vista Ridge High School. 3) Ervin Johnson, former NBA player, shared a motivational talk about character, confidence and making good choices with sixth-graders at FMS during P.E. class Sept. 18. 4) Abby Teeples, senior, and Manuel Delrosario, senior, were crowned Sand Creek High homecoming queen and king Sept. 13.
Important Updates News from Leadership Hello D49 Team, This may come as a surprise to each of you (or not)... but District 49 is growing! And we are growing fast. This was a main theme in the community briefings that Brett, Peter and I delivered at Inspiration View Elementary, Bennett Ranch Elementary and Sand Creek High School between September 10 and 16. We also informed the community of our stellar and sustained improvements in academic performance, the great work of our teaching and support staff, the accomplishments we achieved collectively in carrying out the vision of recent mill levy overrides and plans for how we’re moving forward to manage our phenomenal growth. Did you know out of the 15 largest Colorado school districts over the past five years, D49 student population grew approximately 14.6%, while the next fastest district grew at a 9.4% rate (with the other 13
growing at a 6.6% rate at the most)? Our speed of growth is clearly unique in the state, and rare in the nation. This presents all of us with a challenging planning environment as we strategize on how to support this growth. We informed our community of the challenges of balancing enrollment across the district without negatively impacting families, the requirement to build a lot of schools in future years, funding strategies for building those schools and the potential impact future initiatives may have on families in the district (including a voter initiative to fund any future high school, and the realistic need for boundary changes as we build schools and seek to maximize use of existing schools). You can watch the video or check out the PowerPoint slides from the presentation at d49.org. I encourage you to do that, so you can help us inform our community of the direction we are heading. In appreciation of all you do, Pedro Almeida, Chief Operations Officer
VoW Survey Update THANK YOU, D49 TEAM! We heard from 89% of you districtwide, which sets a new record for VoW Annual Survey participation. A total of 35 schools/departments reached 90% participation or higher. Hats off to those with participation of 100%! ALLIES
Falcon Zone Leadership Bennett Ranch Elementary Human Resources Communications iConnect Zone Leadership Culture & Services Individualized Education Education Office Staff Learning Services Falcon Homeschool Program Patriot High
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PEAK Education Center Pikes Peak Early College POWER Zone Leadership Sand Creek Zone Leadership Springs Studio for Academic Excellence
Around the District Staff Training: Equipping Our Paraprofessionals Thanks to past VoW Annual Survey feedback, new training opportunities for paraprofessionals kicked off last month. D49 special and general education teachers, and coaches attended a training to learn about the unique roles of paraeducators, and ways to support them. With a “train the trainer” model, attendees can take the content back to their individual school teams. “This model equips buildings with resources and materials to train and support their paraprofessionals on a variety of topics and allows us to provide district-level opportunities,” shared Dr. Kathy Pickering, coordinator of professional learning. During the session, the cohort of trainers was equipped to teach paraeducator academies focused on topics including behavior manageAttendees learn at the paraprofessional training Aug. 22 ment, communication support needs, vocabulary and comprehension, and 23 at the Creekside Excellence Lab. instructional strategies and more. “The training was hands down one of the best trainings I have ever received over the course of my career,” shared Erin Cox, SPED teacher, HMS. “I wish I had this training 12 years ago when I first started teaching.” The first districtwide CO-TOP Behavior Management Paraprofessional Academy is coming up! For more information and to register, check out the event on the Aha! Network.
Tutoring Resources for Students
Study Buddies - Teen volunteers help students in grades K-5 with homework or reading. Learn more. AfterMath - Experienced math tutors can help students of all ages. Learn more.
Check out these FREE tutoring opportunities!
Health & Wellness Corner
quiz question, delicious recipes, inspiring articles, interactive message board, motivating daily emails and more will help keep you moving.
Step up to a healthier you with Walktober, October 1 - 31! Take advantage of autumn’s cool temperatures and great views in the virtual fitness campaign. Logging activity is simple — using your favorite tracking device or the Step Converter tool. A daily
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Register at battleofthedistricts.walktober.com D49 will battle ASD20 and HSD2 this year. One district will take home the trophy. Earn prizes for weekly mini-challenges, and we’ll recognize the top three teams and individuals who earn 20+ leaves.
Spotlight on Team Members D49 Team Accolades Adriane Jasper
Team Members Honored for Serving, Supporting Others Tammy Peterson
Staff across District 49 dedicate themselves to helping both students and colleagues. At the heart of how they treat each other and their work is the D49 cultural compass, which emphasizes care and respect.
Sandi Heckel
The board of education recognized four individuals during Fantastic 49 festivities before the regular board meeting September 12 for their commitment to serving others.
CONRATULATIONS to our September honorees: Adriane Jasper, Teacher of the Year, PEAK Education Center Tammy Peterson, Teacher of the Year, Falcon Homeschool Program Sandi Heckel, Paraprofessional, Falcon Homeschool Program Chantel Hodges, District Building Custodial Supervisor
Workplace: All About Our People As a teenager, Karen Hobson, didn’t realize yet how she was about to make history. She grew up a tomboy in a non-military family, and upon graduating from high school, was ready to take on the world. That fall in 1976, she entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was among the first class that allowed women into the academy. “I was part of the guinea pig class,” shared Hobson. “We helped figure out what worked and what didn’t.” The initial full dress uniforms for women worn in parades didn’t have tails. Since formations in parades placed the shortest cadets, often women, in the back, it called attention to the females. Coats with tails were issued the following year. Women’s hair had to be cut short, unlike today when females can put their hair up. “The barbers
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Chantel Hodges
loved to see us coming,” she shared. “They would pull out their blow dryer and scissors and still go clip, clip, clip,” she said. To Hobson, a current Falcon Middle School team member, it was great competing with the men. “Women who Hobson in her first year at West Point. fell out of runs would get harrassed more.” She had males tell her if she didn’t quit, they wouldn’t either. While 119 women entered the academy in 1976, only 62, including Hobson, graduated in 1980. “The Academy instilled a sense of duty and service to my country in me, so I’m happy I get to coordinate Veterans Day activities at FMS each year.” It’s people like Karen Hobson who make D49 the Best Choice to Learn, Work and Lead! #WeAreD49