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Woodland Park School District Newsletter
Issue #4 October 3, 2008 |
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Greetings!
You are cordially invited to the Woodland Park School District October School Board Meeting. Topics will include a discussion on Teacher recruitment and retention. We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the large conference room at Central Office, located at 211 N. Baldwin. See you there!
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From the Computer of Happy Hands Children's Museum
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A group of local parents and community leaders are trying to start a children's museum in Woodland Park.
We are beginning our fund raising for a permanent facility. We can't do this alone. We need your help. If you can, please include the following information in your October newsletter so that parents are aware of what we are doing and how they can help out.
On Oct. 17 and 18, Happy Hands Children's Museum will be having a yard sale at 551 Taopi Lane in Woodland Park from 8 am until 2 pm. You can help by donating gently used items. All donations are tax deductible. All items are being sold on a donation basis; pay what you feel it's worth. Call Nina Richards at 687-4365 for details.
Also, on Monday, Oct. 20 take your family and friends out to eat at the Texas Roadhouse on 8th Street in Colorado Springs between 4:30 and 10 pm. They have agreed to donate 10% of all proceeds that evening to Happy Hands Children's Museum.
If you would like to help us in other ways, or make a larger, tax-deductible donation, please feel free to contact us. There are many ways for you to help. We need volunteers and funds, so the opportunities are endless.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call me. Thank you for your support.
Nina Richards
Founder/President
Happy Hands Children's Museum
Mailing Address: 551 Taopi Lane Woodland Park, CO 80863
Phone: 687-4365 FAX: 687-2055
E-mail: childrensmuseuminwp@yahoo.com
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Gateway student council members rode in the Homecoming parade along with principal, Kay Lynn Waddell; Student Council Rep, Leslie Conrad; and PE teacher, Jason Holmes.
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Citizenship Day at
Gateway
Woodland Park HS band helped Gateway celebrate Citizenship Day on Sept 16, 2008. The entire school gathered in front of the building around the flagpole. The band opened the ceremony with the "National Anthem". Gateway students sang several patriotic songs to commemorate the day.
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WPMS Panther Cafe'
While you won't find coffee brewing at the middle school Panther Café, you will see lots of kids reading and enjoying beverages like hot chocolate, tea and apple cider. The Panther Café is held every Monday in the school library during each grade's flex times. Students can earn a pass to come to the café for exhibiting any of the ROAR principles. At the café, students can kick back, relax, and read while they enjoy their beverage and snacks. So far the Panther Café has been a great success and the library would like to recognize Heidi Thomas and Kathy Dixon for volunteering their help to keep the café running smoothly!
 
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Summit Sky Skippers a Sensation!
The Summit Sky skippers, under the direction of Sue Wright, performed at the First Annual Woodland Park School District Bike and Hike on Saturday, September 27. The Sky Skippers are a jump rope team which meets one morning a week, to practice unique jumps and routines that involve balance, coordination and endurance. They also practice speed jumping, basic skills, partner skills, and long rope skills. Sue Wright, physical education teacher, started the club as an extracurricular opportunity to improve physical fitness at Summit Elementary. She believes that this is a fun way to promote physical activity, teamwork, and good sportsmanship.
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Fourth Graders at Summit Elementary Explore
Chico Basin Ranch
Have you ever wondered what life would be like as a homesteader? The fourth graders at Summit Elementary had the opportunity to find out, when they spent a day at Chico Basin Ranch. Chico Basin Ranch is one of the largest working ranches in Colorado and is committed to the preservation of nature. This beautiful setting, southeast of Colorado Springs, provides an educational experience like no other. Students "went back in time" to experience what life was like for the homesteaders of the eastern prairie. They hauled gallons of water to help a family of 8 survive on the prairie, in a simulated activity. Teamwork and cooperation were key, as students learned the importance of cattle grazing and ranch work. A tour of the corral and tack room allowed students the opportunity to see how difficult ranch life can be during cattle weaning and branding. Afternoon sessions consisted of the identification of prairie plants and grasses, an authentic spelling bee in a one-room schoolhouse and the exploration of a prairie dog colony. Journal entries, plants samples, and reflective writings, helped students to process this wonderful learning experience.
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 Homecoming Week at Woodland Park High School
Spirit was high at WPHS this past week as we celebrated Homecoming. Monday everyone stumbled out of bed and straight to school since Pajama Day kicked off our spirit week. The first spirit assembly that afternoon included fun and games for students and staff. That evening the seniors were triumphant with a 7 to 0 win over the juniors during the Powder Puff football game. Tuesday brought five decades to the halls of the school as staff dressed for the decade they were born in and the student classes were each assigned a decade from the 50's to the 80's. A BBQ lunch was served in the afternoon that included music, games and prizes. On Wednesday we rolled out the red carpet (which incidentally was the theme for this year's homecoming) as we celebrated Movie Character Day. That night the bonfire at Gateway Elementary lit the skies of Woodland Park as we watched the jaguar of Rock Canyon burn. Thursday's spirit assembly was bursting with color as each class showed their spirit during Class Clash Day. The senior class won the battle for the spirit stick by accumulating the most spirit points during the week's festivities. There was an explosion of Panther Pride in the hallways for Friday's Green and White Spirit Day. The entire community came out to enjoy the parade that was led by the school's award-winning band and featured floats from many of the high school's sports and activities. Later that evening free food, drinks and music were enjoyed at the tailgate party in the Gateway school parking lot. The Panthers fought valiantly at the football game but were ultimately defeated by the Rock Canyon Jaguars. During the half-time show the cheerleaders and band performed and the fireworks show thrilled the crowd. Also during half-time the homecoming court was announced. Congratulations to David Greenstreet and Alex Huntington for being chosen as King and Queen of Homecoming 2008. The homecoming dance closed the week with a record breaking attendance of over 600 students. Overall we had outstanding participation during the entire week as students and staff all joined in the fun.
Submitted by Cindy Wallace and Cindy Reif
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ACTIVITIES & ATHLETICS
By Brian Gustafson
Greetings, Panther fans! October marks the 'stretch run' for many of our fall athletic teams. The post-season is on the horizon and our competitors face exciting opportunities to compete for play-off berths.
As of October 3rd, the Boys Golf team has completed its season and had one golfer fall just one stroke short of qualifying for the state tournament. The Girls Softball Team is closing the season with a strong push and at 9-7 is making a strong case for a playoff spot. The Girls Volleyball Squad is having a successful season and currently sports a 9-4 record with 6 matches to play. Our Cross-Country teams continue to bring home hardware from meets around the state. Their regional meet is scheduled for October 16th. Boys Soccer will be closing out the regular season with some home games under the lights, be sure to check the schedule and get to one of the games.
Unbelievably, Homecoming week has already come and gone and was as exciting and enthusiastic as ever. Students from all schools in the district participated in, or attended, the Bonfire, Parade and of course the football game. The Football team will put its 2-1 league record on the line against Harrison on October 3. Though the Panthers will be on the road for much of the remainder of the season, they do have one more home game on October 17th.
Activities and clubs around Woodland Park School District are engaged in all sorts of fundraisers, performances and community service events. For example, the S.O.S. Club at WPHS recently gathered 10,638 pounds of electronics for responsible recycling.
If the air seems to be getting a bit cooler, perhaps it's time to get inside and see some of the drama and musical performances going on around the district. Make sure to catch the WPHS fall play, 'A Murder Announced' at the Dickson Auditorium on October 2nd and 3rd.
By the time the next newsletter comes out it will be November and Winter Sports Tryouts will be just around the corner. It's not too early for students to get signed up for Wrestling, Girls Basketball and Boys Basketball. Plan ahead: Paperwork for high school athletes should be in to the Activities Office by November 6th and Tryouts begin on November 12th. The Winter Sports 'Meet the Coaches Night' is scheduled for November 18th at 6:30 p.m.
Good luck to all of our participants in October. If schedule information is ever needed, be sure to go to www.highschoolsports.net.
As always,
GO GREEN!
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Columbine's Big Backyard Experience
Hugged any trees lately? Columbine students have! With the help of Colorado College Environmental Studies students and instructor Julie Francis, Columbine was treated to a day of games and explorations in Our Big Backyard. Through experiencing the guided discovery approach to learning in the outdoors, our children began to see their playground through new eyes.
Saralyn , a third grader in Marla Wise's room wrote this about her experience that day in her nature journal, " I loved using my five senses. I loved how we played 'Predator and Prey'. Sometimes I thought I was an animal."
"My favorite part was everything! I still remember what the tree is made out of! It goes heartwood, xylem, bark, roots, leaves, and the phloem makes food." Isaac
Lauren recollected her favorite experiences of the day. "We looked into magnifying glasses and saw trees. Aspen are white. Some trees are blue and green. There was a scab on my tree!"
Emily and Kelsey, both fifth graders, commented on how much fun it was to learn and play -at the same time-- in the outdoors.
Citlally wrote, "I enjoyed making the human tree with all of my classmates. I liked it because all of the class got to participate. I got to be the roots."
"When the seeds of the grass falls off, it grows new grass. "MacKenzie.
"Il loved it when the Colorado College students came. It was good to know how many people care about the environment. My favorite thing was when we walked outside to look at trees and it started to rain. I love when it rains, especially the way the air smells." Rebecca
Julie Francis and her students have been studying best practices in teaching environmental education and the sciences. Columbine's faculty has been exploring too. We all agree that children learn easily and joyfully when they're given time to explore and learn in their natural environment
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Woodland Park School District - Where our Students are
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