TPCA Howl


August 21, 2013
TPCA LOGO
 

Our Mission

Twin Peaks Charter Academy provides students with the foundations of virtue and character, building cultural literacy through a rigorous, content-rich curriculum in an encouraging environment.

 

Our Legacy:

"Academic Excellence"

MESSAGE FROM K-5 PRINCIPAL
Wow! The summer went fast! Here we are buying school supplies, teachers setting up rooms and becoming familiar with the students on their rosters, custodians busily finishing up the last cleaning details, and the list of back-to-school tasks goes on. This year is particularly exciting because we have our 16th kindergarten class and our first senior graduating class. The class of 2014 and the class of 2026 in the same building! We just want to say thank you for choosing Twin Peaks for your child's education. We are proud to offer a K-12 experience and are confident our students will receive a rigorous educational experience in an encouraging environment that will enable them to go on to college and excel in whatever they desire. Yes, college does start in kindergarten!

 

Our staff has had a full summer! We are excited to welcome back our fantastic "veteran" teaching staff, some of whom were fully engaged in extending their learning over the summer. Mrs. Gerke, along with Diana Dolinar, Charissa Gerke, and Debbie Esterline (7th Science) took part in a book study of Making Content Comprehensible for English Language Learners; the SIOP method. Jessica McClellan-Bianco has been learning about the new kindergarten readiness pilot that is part of the state's new literacy assessment requirement. Mrs. McClellan-Bianco, Mrs. Bohannon, Ms. Jarvis, Mrs. Higgins, Mrs. Austin, and Ms. Dolinar used part of their summer to develop math and social studies units for their respective grade levels. In addition to these teachers, Twin Peaks has created leadership pathways for staff interested in leading school initiatives. Mrs. Sandman-Schafer and Mrs. Miloradovich have taken the lead in our school wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports system. This group is responsible for educating our staff and students about TPCA's character pillars and how positive and encouraging an environment we can have when we treat each other with respect and compassion. Mrs. Eppler and Mrs. Burns (7th English) are leading TPCA's writing initiative to align our writing curriculum K-12.

 

You will also see some new faces this year. We are proud and excited to welcome Mrs. Sanchez (half-day kindergarten), Mrs. Charissa Gerke and Mrs. Hunter (1st grade), Ms. Williamson (2nd grade). Mrs. Olkowski (3rd grade), Mr. Dunegan (4th grade), and Ms. Wilson (K-5 art). This is an impressive group of teachers with a range of teaching experiences and backgrounds. They will only add to the great teaching that already exists in our K-5 school. This group spent August 8, 9, and 12 becoming familiar with TPCA's history, culture, community, and instructional expectations. They will continue their induction with ten more seminars throughout the school year.

 

I am excited, honored, and, yes, a little nervous to be given the K-5 Principal title. I have enjoyed my four years at TPCA under the assistant principal title but am happy to have a more narrowed focus in an area that is near and dear to my heart: elementary. This will be my fifteenth year in education, and the journey has been exhilarating, challenging, and rewarding. The teaching staff at TPCA is top notch, and I learn as much from them as they claim to learn from me.  I look forward to continuing our collective understanding of the revised Colorado Academic Standards including the common core math and language arts standards and how, through our great Core Knowledge content, students can achieve mastery of those standards and beyond.

 

Twin Peaks is a great place to learn but also to develop friendships and strong community bonds. Our PTO led by Mrs. Katie Gaddis is organized, focused, and looking for your help and support. Research has proven time and again that students excel in school when their parents are actively involved in their child's educational experience. Our PTO organizes multiple events throughout the school year to bring parents and students together. These events cannot happen without parent support. Please contact Katie at ckagaddis@msn.com.  

 

If these events don't fit your availability, there are many other ways to be involved! Please contact our volunteer coordinator, Beverly Weinberg at weinberg_beverly@svvsd.org.  Your involvement makes a difference in the life of your child and the lives of the other children who attend TPCA.

 

In closing, I look forward to a great year of learning, fun, growth, partnerships, and community building. It is exciting to know that we have under our roof the future leaders, doctors, scientists, artists, musicians, mathematicians, and great minds who will solve problems that don't even exist yet. We have among us the potential for greatness. Join me and our dedicated staff in developing, encouraging, and propelling that potential.

 

Sincerely,

Danielle Feeney

K-5 Principal

LEADERSHIP TPCA
 

The dates are set, and the application is available.  Please download and complete an application to participate in our Leadership TPCA program in 2013-2014.

  

CALENDAR OF EVENTS     

                                          

 Wednesday, August 21      MS Fall athletics Informational Meeting

                                     3:05 East Campus Media Center

                                     Volleyball, Cross-Country and Soccer

 

Thursday, August 22         Grades K-5:  First Day of School

 

Friday, August 23              Marketing Committee meeting

                                     8:00 a.m. East Campus (HS) Media Center

 

Tuesday, August 27          Grades 9-12: Back-to-School Night 6:00 p.m.

  

Thursday, August 29         Timberwolf Trot Kick-off assemblies

 

Friday, August 30              Professional Day, NO SCHOOL

                                                                                                                                                                                

Monday, September 2      Holiday, NO SCHOOL

 

Wednesday, September 4  EARLY RELEASE DAY 1:30 p.m. 

 

Thursday, September 5       Grades 6-8 Back-to-School Night 6:00 p.m.

 

Friday, September 6           Smart Jeans Day

 

Tuesday, September 10      Faculty Committee

                                      6:00 p.m.  West Campus Conference Room

 

Wednesday, September 11  PTO Meeting

                                      6:00 p.m. East Campus Cafetorium

 

Thursday, September 12     Finance Committee

                                      5:30 p.m. East Campus Media Center

 

Friday, September 13         Timberwolf Trot

Friday, September 27         Picure Day (K-12) and Dress of Choice Day

    

 

STUDENT FEE PAYMENTS

A Message from the Office Staff

 

Thank you for your patience while we process fee payments made at Back-to-School registration. We plan to have payments credited to student accounts and personal checks processed by the end of the week.  Please contact us after that time if you have questions about your student's account balance. 

 

School year 2013-14 Free and Reduced Lunch discounts will be applied to qualified student fee balances after October 1 giving all families time to apply or reapply by the October 1 application deadline.  If you expect to qualify, please pay the discounted amount, due now, or continue with payments if you have set up a payment plan with the Business Office.  Please contact us if you have questions about fees, a at putrah_marilyn@svvsd.org or 303.772.7286 X57051
  

ART DEPARTMENT        

Dear Parents

 

I am pleased to inform you of a unique and exciting addition to the art program in our school. The Art Department has teamed up with Artsonia to showcase its students' artwork on the Internet. Artsonia is the world's largest online art museum with millions of art pieces by students in over 100 countries. I believe this project will help boost the students' pride and self-esteem, technology awareness, and multi-cultural understanding. Further, the project also enables parents, relatives and friends to view the child's artwork online. I encourage you to take an active role in your child's art education by participating in Artsonia.

 

As a registered parent, you can submit artwork to your child's gallery, invite family and friends to join the artist's fan club and also approve comments that visitors leave in your child's guestbook.

 

You can see your child's artwork as well as any other artwork by visiting www.artsonia.com and browsing our school gallery.

 

Besides showcasing our students' artwork on the Internet for the world to see, Artsonia also offers parents high quality gift items imprinted with your child's own artwork. The school arts program will receive 20 percent of all the order revenue. Therefore, not only are these products excellent gifts for friends and family, but your order directly supports the arts program here at the school.

 

I encourage you and your family members to visit the website and enjoy all of its educational benefits.

Yours very truly

Ms. Wilson                            

  
PORTAPORTAL 
                         

Parents and Students:  

 

Welcome back to school!  Here is the link to my Portaportal site. On Portaportal you can check out some great websites I've bookmarked just for you! After you click on the link, select  "Guest Access."  The "Guest Name" is: ssandman78.  Have fun!

  

Mrs. Sandman-Schafer, Technology

 

                       

GIFTED and TALENTED IDENTIFICATION:

Search for Students


Each year, schools in St. Vrain Valley School District complete a process to identify students who demonstrate exceptional ability or performance in one or more academic areas and may, therefore, qualify for gifted and talented educational services. These students usually perform at least two years above grade level in their strength area(s) and require additional academic challenges in order to support their continued educational growth and progress. In addition, they usually demonstrate characteristics of unique creativity and high motivation in their strength areas.

 

The search for gifted and talented students begins with an opportunity for parents and/or teachers to refer students for review. Once referrals are received, a team of educators reviews student TCAP data, standardized test scores, rating scales and other school data to determine student eligibility.

 

If you believe that your child qualifies and would benefit from gifted and talented services, please pick up a nomination form from either front office or from one of the three interventionists or GT liaisons (Megan Edmiston, Carol Gerke, Teal Maxwell). Please return the completed nomination form to your child's teacher or to one of the interventionists by September 13, 2013.  

___________________________________________________________

 

Identificación de Estudiantes con Talento Académico Excepcional:

En Búsca de Estudiantes

Nota Informativa

 

 

Cada año, las escuelas en el Distrito Escolar del Valle de St. Vrain completan un proceso para identificar estudiantes quienes demuestren una habilidad o rendimiento académico excepcional en una o más de las áreas académicas y que podrian por lo tanto calificar para recibir servicios educativos por su talento excepcional. Estos estudiantes por lo regular muestran un rendimiento académico de por lo menos dos años por encima del nivel del grado que cursan en las áreas que le son de mayor fortaleza y requieren de retos académicos para poder apoyar su continuo crecimiento y progreso educativo. Además, ellos por lo regular muestran características de creatividad única y una alta motivación en las áreas que son su fuerte.  

 

La búsqueda de estudiantes con talento excepcional o dotados con cualidades académicas únicas se inicia con una oportunidad para los padres y/o los maestros para referir a estudiantes y hacer una revisión de su caso. Una vez que las referencias son recibidas, un equipo de educadores revisa datos informativos de las pruebas CSAP, resultados de pruebas estandarizadas, escalas de clasificación, y otra información escolar para determinar la elegibilidad del estudiante.    

 

Si usted cree que su hijo(a) califica y se beneficiaría de recibir servicios educativos por su talento excepcional, favor de recojer una hoja de referencia de las oficinas de la escuela, o pónganse en contacto con la maestras de recursos de servicios educativos al talento académico excepcional (Megan Edmiston, Carol Gerke, Teal Maxwell). Por favor, complete y envíe el formulario a el/la maestro(a) de su hijo o a las maestras enumerados anteriormente a más tardar el 13 de Septiembre.

 

 

                                               

Booster Club 
HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB!

 

Dear Twin Peaks Family and Friends

 

Timberwolves Booster Club is a newly formed organization, and we NEED members!

 

The Club meets on the 2nd Monday of the month to plan school events and fundraisers to benefit our students.

 

Booster Club membership is encouraged for all TPCHS parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends. Even families with young children can join now to help strengthen the program that awaits those children in the future. 

 

Click here Booster Club Pamphlet 

Contact Kristin or Tim Ellis for more information or to join.

We anticipate a great year serving through the Timberwolves Booster Club.

Thank you

 

Kristin Ellis  ktlskt@yahoo.com        

Tim Ellis      tim@frenchquarterphotography.com

 
PTO paw 
PLUGGED IN WITH PTO 

 

  
PTO Meeting Wednesday, September 11
6:00 p.m. East Campus Cafetorium

 

  

On Friday, September 13, we have our 2nd Annual Timberwolf Trot. This event was a wild success in 2012, and we will run it very similarly to last year.  The pledge envelopes and flyers will be coming home very shortly after the start of school, so make sure to check Thursday folders!

 

We would love for you to join in and help plan these events and future events for this year.  If you have any interest or questions, please do not hesitate to email me, Katie Gaddis, PTO President, at ckagaddis@msn.com 

 
Invitation to join 
the Marketing Committee
Friday, August 23 - 8am
High School Cafeteria
  
Please join us for coffee at our first meeting after dropping off your students. We are looking for people with marketing, public relations, event planning, advertising, media buying, creative, copy-writing, web design and set-up experience. If you have neither of these but a general interest we can use you too!  We will be hitting the ground running, and we would love to have you on board. The Marketing Committee generally meets twice a month during the school year and among other things, is responsible for school branding, new family recruitment, student retention, and communication.
 
 
CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
NEEDS MEMBERS 

What is the heart of Twin Peaks Charter Academy and Twin Peaks High School?  The curriculum.  The basic ideas and content our children are taught, from Kindergarten through the 12th grade, is the curriculum, and if you have a child at Twin Peaks, your life is touched by this curriculum.  The Curriculum Committee seeks parents, faculty, or staff who are interested in advising the TPCA Board of Directors on curricular issues. Volunteer hours apply. No prior experience or expertise is necessary, just a desire to tend to the heart of our school.  Meetings are usually twice a month for about an hour each.  Although this year's meeting schedule is TBD, the first meeting will be the week of September 1.  Watch the Howl and Growl for more information.  Interested?  Contact Shelley Coleman, Committee Chair: sjcoleman@q.com  

Inta Juice MESSAGE FROM THE CAFETERIA
                       

Inta Juice smoothies will be available starting on Friday, September 6. Smoothies are gluten free, made with juice, low fat sherbert, unsweetened fruit and ice. They do contain dairy products.  They will be available every Friday with a different flavor each week. Cost is $1.25. 

vols group 
VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS NEEDED

 

 

1. We are in need of bilingual or multi-lingual volunteers who would be interested in interpreting and/or translating.  If you are interested, please contact Beverly Weinberg at weinberg_beverly@svvsd.org.
  
2.  Volunteers are needed for a new high school college information system called Naviance.  Work from home and update our college information system! A Scholarship Coordinator and College Contact Coordinator are also needed. Please contact Lori West for information and to help with these important tasks. You can get started now and have your volunteer hours logged! Contact Lori West at west_lori@svvsd.org  
 
3.  Volunteers are needed to help with recess duty.  Times available are any weekday between 11:10 a.m. and 1:10 p.m.  If you are available any weekday and can volunteer 1/2 to 1 hour, please contact Danielle Feeney at feeney_danielle@svvsd.org

  

4.  We are looking for volunteers to review math curriculum.  If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Terry at terry_patricia@svvsd.org

 

5.  Items needed:

M. Birch (MS science teacher) is setting up an aquarium in his classroom this year. He needs undergravel filters and air pumps and tubing that will work with a 30 gal. aquarium (L=30", W=12", H=18"). If you can donate any of these items, it would be greatly appreciated. He will even name one of his fish after you! As always, thanks for your support.  birch_brian@svvsd.org

 

5.  Find out how you can receive volunteer credit for supplies donated. Contact Beverly at Weinberg_beverly@svvsd.org

 

   
YEARBOOK 2014 
Yearbook sales are ONLINE this year!
Follow the instructions on the screen.
  

Pricing: Registration (now until September 6)

                        Hard cover (K-12) $40

                        Soft cover (K-5)   $20

                                   Fall (September 7 to December 31)

                                               Hard cover (K-12) $45

                                               Soft cover (K-5)   $20

                                   Winter (January 1 to February 7)

                                               Hard cover (K-12) $50

                                               Soft cover (K-5)   $25

                                   Spring (February 8 to May 16)

                                               Hard cover (K-12) $50

                                               Soft cover (K-5)   $25

 
ATTENTION:
NEW SECURITY MEASURES AT TPCA
 

Dear Parents and Guardians:

 

We would like to introduce you to a new system our school has acquired to further protect your children. It's called V-soft. V-soft helps track visitors, students, faculty, contractors, and volunteers at our school, thus providing a safer, more monitored environment for the students. 

 

When visitors, volunteers, or contractors check in, or when parents come to pick up students, they will be asked to present a valid state-issued ID for entering into the system. The system has the ability to provide alerts on people who may jeopardize the safety of the campus. We feel certain this will help us keep our campus a little safer and ask for your cooperation in presenting your valid state-issued ID when checking in at the school. Thank you, in advance, for your help in this matter. 

 ______________________________________________________________

  

Queridos Padres: 

Tenemos el gusto de presentarles un nuevo sistema que adquirido nuestra escuela con el fin de proteger a sus hijos. Se llama V-Soft y nos ayuda a hacer un seguimiento a las personas que visitan el edificio escolar, los estudiantes, empleados, contratistas y voluntarios que se hacen 

presentes en nuestra escuela, ofreciendo asi un ambiente mas vigilado que brinda mayor seguridad a nuestros estudiantes. 

Cuando los visitantes, voluntarios o contratistas se registran en la oficina, o cuando los padres llegan a recoger a sus hijos de la escuela, se les pedira que presenten su documento de identidad valido del Estado para poder identificarlo en el sistema. El sistema tiene la capacidad de alertar sobre personas que puedan poner en riesgo la seguridad de nuestra escuela. 

Estamos seguros de que este sistema ayudara a mantener nuestra escuela un poco mas segura. 

De tal modo que solicitamos su colaboracion presentando un documento valido que haya sido emitido por el Estado para poder registrarse en la oficina. Agradecemos su cooperacion

 HELP SUPPORT TPCA IN YOUR EVERYDAY TASKS

 

  

   

Don't forget to use your King Soopers and Safeway re-loadable cards throughout the entire year to support PTO.  Funds earned by using these cards support our teachers, students, and family activities.

 

Milk Caps for Mooola 

Continue to save your BoxTops, Labels for Education, and Longmont Dairy beverage caps all year.

   

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM:

  

The A.M. Program opens at 7 a.m. We provide snack, homework help, and activity stations. Students go right into class at the 7:55 bell.

P.M. Program goes from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. We provide snack and programs in the arts, STEM and Healthy Living.  Drop in programs are also available.

 

Fees:

$130 per week per child includes any early release and/or professional development day that week

Drop in Fees:

$25 per child - max 3 days per week - before or after school

$10 - early release afternoons

$40 - Professional development days (at the Y 7 am to 6pm)

 

Forms and Parent handbook are available at http://www.longmontymca.org/en/youth-developmenteducation/school-age-programs or call Krystle at 720-652-4731 or email her at kcodrey@longmontymca.org

 
QUICK LINKS
Join Our Mailing List
Welcome back to a brand new school year!
  
Sincerely,

BJ Buchmann
Twin Peaks Charter Academy