Friday, May 30, 2014

Late Weather Dismissal
Thank you for coming into school to pick up your child when we delayed dismissal due to severe weather.  Students' safety is always our primary concern when making such a decision.  If you did not receive an email and text alerting you of the change in dismissal, please check your information in partent portal.  Click here for additional information regarding the receipt of school and district communication.  We appreciate your patience.

Field Day Fun!
Students in grades 1-5 enjoyed our Lewis and Clark themed field day!  We thank our parent volunteers and our physical education teacher, Mrs. O'Day, for making this wonderful day possible!




Math Olympiad
Students in grades 3 through 5 who participated in Math Olympiad this year were honored for their work.  Math Olympiad is a national organization that is dedicated to stretching students' ability to think mathematically.  Gold Rush had 45 students participate in this before school club this year.  They met weekly to apply math skills at a high level.  We thank Mrs. Barta, Ms. Menk and Mr. Anderson for facilitating this activity.



First Grade Teacher Retires
We celebrated first grade teacher Nancy Aldridge for her many years of service.  Nancy is retiring at the end of this school year.  She will be missed greatly by all.




New Principal at Legend High School
Congratulations to Mr. Jason Jacob who has accepted a position as the new principal at Legend High School effective July 1, 2014.  Mr. Jacob has been an assistant principal and athletic director at Legend since 2008.  

Mr. Jacob started his career in education in 1999 at Chaparral High School as a biology teacher and head basketball coach.  He later served as dean and assistant principal at Chaparral before joining the core team responsible for opening Legend.

Mr. Jacob received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master’s degree in Education Administration & Supervision from the University of Phoenix.

Office Summer Hours
June 6 - July 4  Closed
July 7 - August 1  9:00-12:00 Monday & Wednesday Only
August 4 - August 8  8:30-11:30 & 12:30-3:30 Monday Through Friday
August 11 School is in Session  

Friday, May 23, 2014

Procedure for Delayed Dismissal Due to Weather

We appreciate your patience when we delayed dismissal due to weather.  Yesterday was particularly difficult as lightening was sighted in our immediate area just after our dismal bell rang.  Please know that students’ safety is our top priority and our decision to delay their departure is done to protect all children. 

It is always important to review our procedures for delayed dismissal.  As you recall our practices are as follows:

·      We will do our best to make the decision to delay dismissal when possible by 3:55 PM.

·      We will email and text you in the event that we need to keep students past our regular school day (4:00PM).  There may be a slight delay in your receipt of the email and text.  Please make sure to check your phone if there are reports of severe weather towards the end of the day.

·      The email and text will state that you will need to come in the building and pick up your child in his or her classroom.

·      Students who are attending BASE or after school activities that are the located in the building will go to the intended location.

·      Bus riders will be called to the gym and will be loaded onto buses when it is safe to do. Transportation will ensure a safe arrival.  They will either drop them off to waiting parents at stops or hold students on the bus until students are safe enough to be released.

·      Walkers and bikers will be dismissed when the weather is clear.  If the weather does not clear by 4:15 P.M. please come and pick up your child from school.

In the evident that we need to bring students back into the building due to weather, you will need to come in and pick up your child in the gym.  You will receive an email and text informing you of this change. 

Again we appreciate your patience and understanding as we strive to keep all students as safe as possible.  Please feel free to contact me directly if you have questions or concerns.

Field Day
Students in grades 1-5 will have field day next Thursday, May 29.  Please see the schedule below.  We still need parent volunteers.  Please contact Karen O’Day if you are interested in helping that day.

The schedule is at follows:
·      9:15 - 12:15  Grades 4, 5, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Nelson and Mrs. Shepperd’s class
·      1:00 - 3:45    Grades 1, 2, plus Mrs. Castro and Mrs. Cieply
·      Kindergarten field day is on June 3rd from 9:30 - 11:30
Student Fun!
Student enjoyed several special activities this week.  Here are a few of our highlights…

Students in grades 2-5 practiced in Junior Achievement on Friday.  Members of Grant Thornton and Anadarko explored different economic principals, such as supply and demand and pricing.  Students enjoyed creating their own communities and building the different businesses needed to support the community.  We thank these businesses for their time and support!



4th grade students venture to Pikes Peak and mine for Gold.



Reminders
* Lost and Found
Please look at the lost and found when you are in for end of year events.  All items that are not collected by the end of the day on June 5th will be donated. 

* Goal Setting Days Change to Assessment Days in Fall 2014-2015

In an attempt to gain more targeted information regarding your child’s academic strengths and needs, Gold Rush is going to change how our goal setting days are structured this fall.  All students in grades K-5 will start a full day of school on Monday, August 11, 2014.  Each child will come to school for one hour only on either August 21 or August 22 to complete reading and math assessments.  Having students complete assessments with their teacher at a later date allows students to adjust to classroom practices and procedures.  The assessments administered will allow educators to alter their instruction to meet your child’s individual needs and learning style.

Parents will be able to sign up for a day and time using the online Conference Scheduler starting mid July.   You will receive a link to the scheduler via email with your express check in information.  Because we value the information we are obtaining on these days it is imperative that all children complete the assessments on either August 21 or August 22.   Students will end their assessment day by having you accompany them to take their school picture.

August 2014






We continue to believe that it is essential that students meet their teacher and visit their classroom prior to the first day of school.  Families are welcome to visit their classroom on Friday, August 8.  Please see your child’s time below.  You may bring your child’s school supplies at this time.

Meet Your Teacher Times for Friday, August 8th

Time
Last Name
1:00-1:30
A-I
1:45-2:15
J-R
2:30-3:00
S-Z

Mark Your Calendar
May 29 – Field Day: Grades 1-5
May 30th @ - Legend HS Graduation / Math Olympiad Awards Celebration
June 3 - Field Day: Kindergarten

June 5- Last Day of School - Wear Hawaiian Shirts

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Goal Setting Days Change To Assessment Days
August 21 & August 22 2014

In an attempt to gain more targeted information regarding your child’s academic strengths and needs, Gold Rush is going to change how our goal setting days are structured this fall.  All students in grades K-5 will start a full day of school on Monday, August 11, 2014.  Each child will come to school for one hour only on either August 21 or August 22 to complete reading and math assessments.  Having students complete assessments with their teacher at a later date allows students to adjust to classroom practices and procedures.  The assessments administered will allow educators to alter their instruction to meet your child’s individual needs and learning style.

Parents will be able to sign up for a day and time using the online Conference Scheduler starting mid July.   You will receive a link to the scheduler via email with your express check in information.  Because we value the information we are obtaining on these days it is imperative that all children complete the assessments on either August 21 or August 22.   Students will end their assessment day by having you accompany them to take their school picture.

August 2014




We continue to believe that it is essential that students meet their teacher and visit their classroom prior to the first day of school.  Families are welcome to visit their classroom on Friday, August 8.  Please see your child’s time below.  You may bring your child’s school supplies at this time.

Meet Your Teacher Times for Friday, August 8th

Time
Last Name
1:00-1:30
A-I
1:45-2:15
J-R
2:30-3:00
S-Z

Third Grade Market Day
Third grade students learned the principals of economics by creating their own product, marketing it, establishing a price and adjusting their strategy.


Choir Performance
Students in grades 3-5 performed for their peers and parents!  They sounded amazing! We thank Mrs. Petty for supporting our students this year!


Hats for Trees
Students raised money for new trees for Gold Rush.  They brought a $1.00 to wear a hat.





Upcoming Events
May 28th @ 8:15 AM - Math Olympiad Awards Celebration
May 29 – Field Day: Grades 1-5
June 3 - Field Day: Kindergarten
June 5- Last Day of School - Wear Hawaiian Shirts

Reminders
* Supervision before school begins at 8:55.  Please do not drop your child off prior to then.
* Please remind your child to get in his/her line when he/she arrives at school.

PTO Pointers
PTO is still collecting clipped Box Tops and Labels for Education.  Please turn them in by Friday, May 23.  In the fall PTO will also collect Box Tops and Labels collected over the summer.


Friday, May 9, 2014

Highlights of the Week
Students had an exciting week. Children from all grade levels have enjoyed special activities and events.

5th Grade Students Soar at Outdoor Education



Kindergarten Students Learn More About Force & Motion with their Egg Drop


Students Share Their Talents at the Talent Show


MAP Reading & Math Assessments
All students took the Measures of Academic Achievement, or M.A.P., assessment in reading this week.  We will begin administering this assessment next week in the area of math.  The purpose of administering this assessment again this spring is to examine students’ growth in reading and math.  Please see classroom teachers’ communication for your child’s specific testing day/time.  

Mark Your Calendar
May 9 – Talent Show @ 7:00PM
May 15 - Incoming Kindergarten Orientation @ 6:00
May 29 – Field Day: Grades 2-5
June 3 - Field Day: Grades K & 1
June 5- Last Day of School

June 30th – Last Day to Access Students’ Grades via Parent Portal

Friday, May 2, 2014

Highlight of the Week
Students’ Demonstrate Their Knowledge
This week teachers worked as grade level teams to identify students’ prior knowledge about writing an opinion/argument.  As you recall, students at all grade levels will begin this genre study using Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study in May.  Teacher teams used Calkins’ grade level rubrics to identify students’ individual strengths and needs.  Teachers will use this information to set goals for each child and adjust their instruction accordingly.  Some students have already begun this unit.  First graders are writing about which item in a favored collection is the best.  Students are writing, for example, which doll, action figure or rock stands out above the rest.  I look forward to highlighting students’ writing in the coming weeks!

Gold Rush has Talent!
Students previewed Golden Ticket Theatre’s production of The Little Mermaid that will be performed throughout the weekend.  I am so impressed with our students’ ability to sing, dance and act!  We hope you are able to attend one of the following shows at Gold Rush this weekend:  Friday @ 6:30 or Saturday @ 1:30 & 6:30.




MAP Reading & Math Assessments
All students took the Measures of Academic Achievement, or M.A.P., assessment in reading and math this past fall.  We will begin administering this assessment again next week in the area of reading and the following week in the area of math.  The purpose of administering this assessment a second time is to examine students’ growth in both areas.  Please see classroom teachers’ communication for your child’s specific testing day/time.  

Mark Your Calendar
May 9 – Talent Show @ 7:00PM
May 29 – Field Day: Grades 2-5
June 3 - Field Day: Grades K & 1
June 5- Last Day of School

June 30th – Last Day to Access Students’ Grades via Parent Portal