Friday, February 27, 2015

Student Highlight
Celebrating Writing
I am so proud of students' writing! Students are currently engaged in their informational writing unit.  In this unit students are learning to determine what information is most important and to convey new information to their readers.  Fourth grade students are writing like historians.  They are setting goals that will help them express their learning about geography, history, economics and civics.  Second graders are busy testing force and motion experiments and wring about their hypothesis, procedures, results and conclusions. I am so proud of their hard work and continued success!





PARCC Testing
Students in grades three through five will take the performance based assessment component of the Partnership for Assessment of College and Career Readiness (PARCC) in March.  PARCC will replace the former state assessment, commonly referred to as TCAP.  Students will take three literacy assessments and two math assessments during this first window.  In early May students in these grade levels will complete this assessment by taking one literacy assessment and two math assessments.  Please see the testing schedule below and refrain from scheduling outside appointments during this time.  Please also ensure that your child is on time and well rested for his/her testing sessions.

Third Grade Students: March 2-March 6 @ 9:20-10:50
Fourth Grade Students: March 2-March 6 @ 2:00-3:45
Fifth Grade Students: March 9-March 12 @ 11:15-12:50
Make Up Testing: March 16-March 19

Parent Teacher Conferences
Teachers enjoyed sharing students’ accomplishments at parent teacher conferences.  Conferences were also an opportunity to brainstorm goals for the remainder of the year.  We thank the PTO for the wonderful meals!

Occupational Therapy Blog
Please check out the OT Blog to find out more about OT and OT related skills.  OT Blog

Mark Your Calendar
·      March 5: Special’s Program
                 Pearne & McMillan 6:15PM
                Steckler & Martino 7:15PM
·      March 20 -  April 3: Spring Break

·      April 11: Legend HS Gala -Click here for additional information.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Student Highlights
Kids Blog About Gold Rush
Fourth and fifth graders have started their own blog called the Miner’s Scribe.  Click here for their first post!  Students write about their experiences and school events.  




Denver Rescue Mission Visits 3rd & 4th Graders
Students in third and fourth grade are learning about civic responsibility as a part of their literacy units.  As a part of their informational writing unit, fourth grade students wrote about how they can change their community for the better.  Students then created blankets for the Denver Rescue Mission.  A representative from the Rescue Mission came to accept the donation.  I am proud of our students’ great work.  



Primary Students Perform
First and second grade performances began this week.  The combined arts performance centered on character education.  Students explored the concepts of civic responsibility, resiliency and collaboration through art, songs and dances.  We look forward to students’ final performance on March 5th.


Honor Choir
Some of Gold Rush's fifth grade students participated in the District honor choir concert last week.  We are so proud of these students!



PARCC Testing
Students in grades three through five will take the performance based assessment component of the Partnership for Assessment of College and Career Readiness (PARCC) in March.  PARCC will replace the former state assessment, commonly referred to as TCAP.  Students will take three literacy assessments and two math assessments during this first window.  In early May students in these grade levels will complete this assessment by taking one literacy assessment and two math assessments.  Please see the testing schedule below and refrain from scheduling outside appointments during this time.

Third Grade Students: March 2-March 6 @ 9:20-10:50
Fourth Grade Students: March 2-March 6 @ 2:00-3:45
Fifth Grade Students: March 9-March 12 @ 11:15-12:50
Make Up Testing: March 16-March 19

Parent Teacher Conferences
Teachers enjoyed sharing students’ accomplishments at parent teacher conferences.  Conferences were also an opportunity to brainstorm goals for the remainder of the year.  We thank the PTO for the wonderful meals and we look forward to our second night of conferences on February 26th!

Mark Your Calendar
·      February 26: Parent Teacher Conferences @ 4:00-8:00PM
·      March 5: Special’s Program
                 Pearne & McMillan 6:15PM
                Steckler & Martino 7:15PM
·      March 20 -  April 3: Spring Break

·      April 11: Legend HS Gala -Click here for additional information.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Student Highlights
Kindness Week
Students were excited to show their school spirit and demonstrate kindness!  This week students completed random acts of kindness, discussed kindness quotes and analyzed examples of kindness.  Classrooms also represented kindness by designing doors to represent this essential concept.  We look forward to continuing to demonstrate kindness to one another and throughout our community.





Valentines Day

Students were creative in designing their Valentines and boxes. 






Teacher Work Day
Teachers are spending their workday aligning the following four elements of the Douglas County curriculum:  World Class Outcomes, content standards, the 4 cs (communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity) and 21st century skills.  We will continue our work from our January workday by designing future instructional units that include these elements.  Incorporating all of these elements into instruction ensures lessons are rigorous and learning transfers to future grade levels and content areas.


Calendar of Events
·      February 13 – No School – Teacher Work Day
·      February 16 – No School -  Holiday
·      February 18 & 26 – Parent Teacher Conferences @ 4:00-8:00PM
·      February 19 – Special’s Program Rossi & Graham 6:15PM
                            Woolums, Murray Close & M. Lewis 7:15PM
·      March 5- Special’s Program Pearne & McMillan 6:15PM
                           Steckler & Martino 7:15PM


Order Your Yearbooks Through March 1
Order your Yearbook today!  Here’s how: 
* Click here to log on to RevTrak
* Select Elementary Schools, E- L, Gold Rush Elementary
* Go to Additional Items.
Click on Parent Portal to see if you already ordered a yearbook in the fall.


Thursday, February 5, 2015

Students Present to PTO
This week students in third and fourth grade presented to PTO about ideas for the school.  As part of their persuasive writing unit, fourth grade students presented the addition of buddy benches on the playground.  Buddy benches would be a place for students to find friends to play with.  Third grade students presented the addition of a school garden, which was also part of their writing.  Students shared data from peers about their interest in a school garden (641 students out of 669 indicated they were interested in a garden) and their budget for materials. They also shared how they would sustain the garden over time with a gardening club.  We are currently reviewing funding sources to see if these student projects are possible.



Kindness Week
We are looking forward to spreading kindness next week.  Students will complete acts of kindness, participate in kindness spirit events and compete in a door decorating contest with the theme of kindness.  See the calendar below for school spirit events.  Click here for additional information.


Home Depot Supports Second Grade Science Writers
Home Depot helped second grade students build ramps for part of their writing and science unit.  Students are currently writing like scientists.  They are designing experiments that focus on the concepts of force and motion.  They are then drafting their hypothesis and describing their procedures, results and conclusions.  We thank Home Depot for their materials.



Calendar of Events
·      February 9 – Kindness is the Gold Rush Way – Wear School Spirit Gear
·      February 10 – Team Kindness – Wear Sports Gear
·      February 11 -  Happy Hats – Wear a Hat
·      February 12 – “I Dream of Kindness” - Wear PJs
                           Valentine’s Day Parties (See Classroom Newsletters)
·      February 13 – No School for Students – Teacher Work Day
·      February 18 & 26th – Parent Teacher Conferences
·      February 19 – Special’s Program Rossi & Graham 6:15PM
                            Woolums, Murray Close & M. Lewis 7:15PM
·      March 5- Special’s Program Pearne & McMillan 6:15PM
                           Steckler & Martino 7:15PM

Town Hall Meeting: Future Capital Needs for the District
The District is looking for parent feedback on how to address future capital needs.  Capital needs include building repairs, maintenance and restructuring due to overcrowding.  I strongly encourage you to get informed and share your ideas.   Click here for the presentation and here to submit your feedback.

SAC Meeting Notes
Click here for SAC Meeting materials.  We discussed the following topics this week:
·      Chambers Road Expansion & Student Crossing Options for Spring of 2016
·      District Master Capital Plan
·      Budget Priorities for 2015-2016


Order Your Yearbooks Through March 1
Order your Yearbook today!  Here’s how: 
* Click here to log on to RevTrak
* Select Elementary Schools, E- L, Gold Rush Elementary
* Go to Additional Items.
Click on Parent Portal to see if you already ordered a yearbook in the fall.

Sock Hop Photos
Please send Sock Hop Photos to grephotos@gmail.com