high plains highlights newsletter... · high plains elementary may 2013 news club -we meet on...

High Plains Elementary May 2013

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Wednesday May 1: 5th Grade Field Trip

Monday May 6 - Friday May 10:

Mother’s Day Roses Sale

Tuesday May 7: Teacher Appreciation

Day

Thursday May 9: Art Gala 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Friday May 10: 4th Grade Field Trip

Tuesday May 14: PTO Meeting 6:00 pm

Wednesday May 15:

2nd Grade Field Trip

Friday May 17: Lunch with the Principal

Monday May 20 - Friday May 31:

Skate City Summer Pass Sales

Thursday May 23: 5th Grade

Continuation 2:15 - 3:10 Gym

Friday May 24: 5th Grade Field Trip -

Skate City

Last Day of School

2013

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The first of May has been very interesting with snow, rain, and sunshine. We have spent the year watching your child grow in their knowledge and social skills. Our staff has worked hard to prepare each and every child to progress to the next grade level. Best wishes to our Fifth grade students as they transition to new adventures in middle school.

Class placements for next year will be made after the school year ends. We use a team approach involving classroom teachers, administrators, specials teachers, and support teachers. Careful consideration is given to create balanced classrooms. Some of the fac-tors considered include gender, academic needs, behavioral needs, and a combination of learning styles. If your child has needs that you would like us to take into account when placing him/her in classes, please fill out a Parent Information Form for Student Place-ment located in the front office by May 17th. Please remember that we do not accept re-quests for specific teachers.

This summer, our school will again be hosting a Title I program focusing on math through science activities. Information will be coming home soon for those students who are eligible for this program. District 20 also offers summer enrichment activities through their Summer Scholars program.

Next year, we will host a Back to School event on Thursday, August 15th, beginning at 3:30. Students should attend with their parents; bring their school supplies if they have them. If you ordered SchoolKidz they will be in your child’s classroom. Come learn about your child’s teacher and about the expectations for the school year (Your child’s teacher will be posted in IC at 2:00 on Thursday, August 15). Each teacher will present two identical sessions for those of you who have more than one child. There will not be a separate “Ice Cream Social” or “Back to School” night. While at this event, schedule your “Get to Know You” conference for Friday, August 16 (see below), sign up to volunteer, join PTO, meet specials teachers, etc. We look forward to this very exciting event to kick off our school year!

Get To Know You Conferences You will sign up for a 10 minute time slot for Friday, August 16, when you attend the Back to School Event on Thursday, August 15. The purpose of this 10 minute conference is for parents and students to share one-on-one with their new teacher anything they want the teacher to know about them academically or socially that will help ensure they have a positive start to the school year. Feedback from all involved has been overwhelmingly positive. If you are unable to attend the Back to School Event to sched-ule your conference feel free to email or call your teacher to schedule a time for the Get to Know You conference on Friday, August 16 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and noon.

Finally, I would like to say “thank you” to the High Plains community for your continued support. It is always with excitement that I have the opportunity to interact with children, community, and staff each day. I welcome your ideas/comments about our school. Enjoy the summer!

Sincerely, Chris Saip, Principal

HHHIGHIGHIGH PPPLAINSLAINSLAINS HHHIGHLIGHTSIGHLIGHTSIGHLIGHTS 2248 Vintage Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Phone: 719-234-4700 Fax: 719-234-4799 Website: www.asd20.org/hpe

Chris Saip, Principal Jan Schneider, Assistant Principal


Thank you to everyone who participated in our “Pennies for Patient’s” drive. We collected about $420 in change for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Way to go High Plains!

Walt Disney once said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Courage is this month’s character trait. Talk to your children about something they want to accomplish and help them set a goal. It can be anything from reading a certain number of books over the summer, learning karate, learning to ride a bike, planting flowers, learn a new game or organizing their room. Whatever their goal encourage and support your children to attain that goal. You may even want to let your children know some of your goals.

Summer vacation is fast approaching and although school will be out for the break, continue to challenge your children to learn throughout the summer. There are many opportunities to help your child continue to learn in the summer. You may want to bake a cake or make cookies together and have your child read the recipe or do the measurements for the ingredients. Your child could practice writing by creating your grocery list each week or writing a letter to a Grandparent or favorite Aunt or Uncle. If you are out shopping, have your child figure out the cost of the item that is on sale. What would the cost be with a 20% discount? Pick a book that your family would enjoy reading and take turns reading to each other.

Our community is rich in history and culture. There are many opportunities including the American Numismatic Association (Money Museum), Fine Art Center, Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, just to name a few. Additionally locally, the Pikes Peak Library District always sponsors many fun free events in the summer to help keep your kids reading. Check out the Gazette on Friday’s for some ideas on local events for your children. Many of them are even free.

At High Plains we enjoy making learning fun and we encourage you to continue the fun throughout the summer. We enjoyed working with your children this year and hope you have a wonderful summer.

Julie Moser & Libby Wagner

School Counselor [email protected]

[email protected]


High Plains Elementary School

School Hours: 8:15 AM - 3:15 PM AM Kindergarten: 8:15 - 11:45 AM Phone: 719-234-4700 FAX: 719-234-4799

www.asd20.org/hpe/ Office Hours: 7:40 AM - 4:00 PM

Office closes for the summer: 3:00 pm June 1, 2013 Office opens for 2013-201: 8:00 AM August 1, 2013

To report an absence, please call our Attendance Line: 234-4700

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE EVENTS

Back to School Event: Thursday August 15th 3:30 PM

Meet your teacher, see your classroom, and get pumped up for a super year! Students should attend with their parents. Bring your school supplies if you have them or if you ordered SchoolKidz, they will be in your classroom. While at this event, you can schedule a 10 minute “Get to Know You” conference for Friday,

August 16 with your teacher, sign up to volunteer, join PTO, etc. Hope to see you all there!

1st Day of School : Monday August 19th

8:15 AM - 3:15 PM AM Kindergarten 8:15 - 11:45 am

We’re off on an amazing adventure! You are going to soar to new heights at High Plains this year. We’re so glad you’re a part of our pack!

High Plains Testing Dates:

Thursday August 22 OR Friday, August 23 Morning OR Afternoon

Students attend only one of the half day sessions. Your teacher will let you know

when you should come for testing. Teachers use the information to place you in

the reading group that fits you best. Watch for information from your teacher

the first couple of days of school.

THSESE ARE NOT REGULAR SCHOOL DAYS!

Picture Day: Monday September 9th 8:30 am - 2:00 pm


News Club - We meet on Thursdays at 7:15 a.m. Students are reporting the school news weekly. They will be going to the D20TV Studio to film one of their newscasts.

Tech Club – We meet Mondays after school. Students are learning how to program using Kodu. It is an activity to make a game.

Choir & Drama Club – GREAT JOB to the cast of “Back In Time with Dinosaurs”. There will also be a 5th Grade Music Program this month, more information to come!

Club News

Sports Club – We will be doing kickball for the month of May.

Tuesday: 4th Grade Wednesday: 3rd Grade Thursday: 5th Grade

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES LAST DAY FRIDAY MAY 17TH

There will be no clubs the last week of school (May 20-24).

Please make arrangements to have your child picked up promptly after school.


Science News

STEM CLUB (Grades 3-5)

Our last meeting for this year will be Wednesday May 15th. STEM club has been a part of this year's Pringle Challenge. Our club mailed 8 packages with a single

Pringle chip in them to a 4th grade class in North Carolina. The goal was to build a shipping container that would safely travel with the Pringle through the

mail. The STEM clubbers designed and built 8 different models. We should have the results in a few weeks. We have also been granted 12 Lego We-Dos and will be competing on May 1st at the District 20

EAC.

JR. STEM (Grades K-2)

We have finished for this school year! A great job to everyone that participated and supported us this year!


Volunteers are an important part of our school. We recognize and

appreciate the time, expertise, support, and assistance they give.

Volunteers may include parents and patrons who give their time to

assist in the classrooms, libraries and offices of the schools.

At this time of year we want to give a giant THANK YOU to all HPE volunteers. You help us to make a difference, and connect our

community in many ways.

PLEASE NOTE: Overdue notices have been

sent home. All overdue books need to be

returned or payment made or report cards

will be held. All books need to be returned

no later than May 17. Please take a look,

for your overdue book. Return soon or

purchase it by June!


Dread the thought of back-to school shopping?

Wish there was a convenient, easy, and less expensive

option? If so, then you need SchoolKidz school supply

kits! Order forms will be coming home with

students or order online at

www.schoolkidz.com

FYI: The Colorado Department of Transportation will widen I-25 for 11 miles between Woodmen Road and Monument between now and December 31, 2013. Sign

up for e-mail and/or text construction notices from the I-25 expansion project. Go to www.coloradodot.info and click on the green cellphone in the upper corner of the page.

Parents: You can enhance your child’s reading by

registering them for Pikes Peak Library District’s

free Summer Reading Program, “ Dig Into

Reading.” Registration begins June 1 and the

program continues through July 31.

Students receive prizes for reading

and are invited to free shows,

special programs, and a big party

at the end.


Parents, please come by the health room the last day

of school to pick up your student’s medication(s). An adult

MUST pick up the medication (s). We cannot send

them home with your student. Any medication left

after the last day of school will be discarded per

district policy. You can also take the opportunity to

pick up a care plan (for example: asthma care plan) for you

student next year.

From the Health Room

DON’T FORGET! Please come and look through the Lost and

Found by the end of the school year. We have

glasses that have not been claimed. Please

check with the office. What is not picked up

will be donated to

charity.


Please note the attached letter from the Colorado Department of

Public Health and Environment regarding immunizations required

For the 2013-14 school year. Please review the parent portal on

Infinite Campus to see if your student’s immunization records

comply with these immunization requirements. If incomplete, then

bring in a copy of medical documentation verifying receipt of all

immunizations, signed by your health care provider, to your school

nurse. Under Colorado law (C.R.S. §25-4-902), the penalty for

failing to comply with the vaccination requirements or failing to sign an

exemption will result in suspension.

(Exemptions: If immunizations are against your personal or religious beliefs, then

you must sign an exemption on the reverse side of the Colorado Department of

Public Health and Environment Certificate of Immunization. A personal or

religious exemption may be signed in the school’s front office. If your child

cannot be immunized for medical reasons, then your health care provider must sign

the medical exemption on the reverse side of the Certificate of Immunization.)

Also attached is a letter regarding the required Tdap immunization for incoming

6th grade students, plus 7th through 12th grade students who have not yet

received this immunization.

Forms related to health care plans and permission to administer prescription or

over-the-counter medications for the next school year must be submitted on an

annual basis. These forms will be available on the District web site over the

summer break, as it will require parent’s/guardian’s and health care provider’s

signatures, prior to returning the forms to your student’s school in the fall.

Jane Jane Manderfield, RN, BSN

Academy School District 20

District 20 Cell: 499-3480

[email protected]

A NOTE FROM THE NURSE____

mailto:[email protected]


Attention all parents and guardians of current 5th grade students!

Immunizations are an important part of our children's health care and Colorado law requires children attending school be vaccinated to prevent certain diseases. The purpose of this letter is to notify you that your 5th grader is required to receive one dose of the Tdap

vaccine prior to entry into 6th grade for the 2013-14 school year. To be considered "compliant" according to Colorado law, after your student receives his/her Tdap vaccine, you must provide a copy of your student's immunization record from his/her physician to the school. Two web sites that offer additional information on immunizations and safety are: www.ImmunizeForGood.com (importance and safety of immunizations) www.ColoradoImmunizations.com (Colorado Immunization Program) Summer is a very busy time for doctors' offices, so please make arrangements now to obtain the Tdap vaccination as soon as possible to be compliant when school resumes on August 19th. Local public health departments may be located through the Family Health Line at 1-303-692-2229 or 1-800-688-7777. If immunizations are contrary to your personal or religious beliefs, then you may sign a waiver exemption form with your school's front office staff. If your student may not have the immunization for medical reasons, then your physician must provide a medical waiver for a medical exemption. Please contact your school nurse if you have questions about this immunization requirement for your student, Jane Manderfield, RN, BSN School Nurse for Challenger, da Vinci, and High Plains ASD20 cell 499-3480 [email protected]


PTO Happenings

~ May 2013 ~

The school year has flown by and we can't believe we're writing the May newsletter! We

hope you enjoyed the 2012-2013 school year and all the PTO events we had throughout it.

There's only one last month of school left and we hope it's a wonderful one for you!

We had a great time with those who came to the movie night – thank you for coming! We

hope you enjoyed the movie, popcorn and time with friends and family. Run with Timber

was a huge success, too! Thank you for your patience with the date changes due to weath-

er and for your awesome participation and support. This is such a fun annual event that

everyone enjoys and provides much-needed funds for our school.

Mark your calendars for Upcoming Events: Tuesday, May 7th ~ Teacher Appreciation Day. Remember to do something special to

say thank you to your child's teacher on this day. We're so lucky to have such amazing

teacher at High Plains!

Monday, May 6th – Friday, May 10th ~ Mother's Day Roses. During this week we will

be selling roses for the children to give their Mothers (or anyone else special in their

lives) for Mother's Day. The kids love having something special to surprise their Mom's

with and what Mom doesn't love getting a flower from her child? We hope you'll partici-

pate and support our school!

Tuesday, May 14th ~ 6:00 pm PTO Meeting. Come make your voice heard as we plan

events for next school year! You may bring your younger children if you need to – there

will be an area for them to do quiet activities during the meeting.

May 19th – 31st ~ Skate City Summer Passes for Sale! Buy a Skate City pass to have a

fun place to escape the heat while working out and having fun with family and friends!

WE NEED YOU! ! !

* All of these events and activities require volunteers to make them possible! To become

a volunteer, simply take a few minutes to fill out the volunteer/background check form in

the office and return it to the office staff. It's FREE, easy and we really appreciate it!

Jan Schneider, the Assistant Principal, will contact you when your background check has

cleared and you can then volunteer. Thank you!

If you'd like to know more about upcoming events, e-mail [email protected] and we

will add you to the PTO

Members email list.

High Plains PTO


May 201 3

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

M o t h e r ’ s D a y R o s e s S a l e

5th Grade Field Trip

Teacher Appreciation

Day

4th Grade Field Trip

PTO Meeting 6:00 - 7:30 pm

5th Grade Continuation

2:15 pm

Last Day of School

Memorial Day

McDonald’s McTeacher

Night 4:30 - 7:30

ART GALA

5:30 - 6:30 pm

5th Grade Skate City Field Trip


Celebrate!

The following activities are planned for

5th grade students on:

**Thursday, May 23**

Family and Friends are welcome to attend

1:30-2:00 pm All school assembly in the gym

2:15-2:45 pm 5th Grade Continuation in the gym

2:45-3:10 pm Cookies & Lemonade in the gym

Student attire for the day: appropriate shirts, jeans or shorts

**Friday, May 24* (students only)

11:00 AM-1230 PM 5th Grade Skate City Field Trip

(bring a sack lunch to enjoy at Skate City)


Attention parents!

Friday May 24th will be

the last day of school!

We hope you have a great

and safe summer!

high plains highlights newsletter... · high plains elementary may 2013 news club -we meet on...

Documents