In This Issue
RWE
Funding Focus
Teacher Spotlight
Physics of Freestyle
Park City School Board Elections

Save the Date
Running with Ed
May 17, 2014

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Running with Ed - A Celebration for Education!
Registration closes April 11th! 

Gather your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues to form a team for the 5th annual Running with Ed! Saturday May 17th is the day our community will gather in crazy costumes to run, walk, skip, jump, or jog their way through the relay race that's been voted Park City's Favorite Fundraiser. All proceeds go toward PCEF's grant programs at your children's schools.

 

The 10-leg race is typically run with teams of five. But we want everyone to take part, whether you're 5 or 85. So, this year you can gather up to ten people for your team! Share the legwork - with 4 legs less than a 5k, anyone at any age can do it. NO Walk-a-thon this year, so get active with your family and friends and join the race that's a party. Be sure to help your school win the $5,000 Ragnar Grant!

 

Go to runningwithed.com for full details and to register your team. Be sure to check out all the fun on our Facebook page.

Funding Focus - STEAM

By now, most of us know that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) initiatives are a major push for school districts across the country. But did you know that Park City is one of the first school districts in Utah to make STEAM a guiding force? That's right, STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math.

 

PCEF has a long history of funding innovative STEAM programs in our district. Recent examples include our support of Science Fairs throughout our district, including the formation of the District Science Fair, as well as funding for the incredibly successful  Robotics programs from elementary to high school. This is our 3rd year of supplementing the Technology Endorsement program for our teachers, and we are helping PCHS build a real-world engineering program through PCCAPS as well as the first  3D printer at a high school in Utah.

 

Our history of supporting the Arts in our district is long and varied, with music being one example. We have helped build an award-winning music program starting with musical instrument grants at the elementary schools, SMART Music grants at Ecker Hill, and overall support of Band as well as Orchestra at TMJH and PCHS. With almost 1000 children from 6th- 12th grade on stage at the Eccles Center two weeks ago at the All-District Music Concerts, we know that the Arts are flourishing in PCSD!

 

We can't support these programs without the generous gifts of our donors and tireless work of our volunteers. Be sure to  register for Running with Ed so more funding can go back to our schools. Thank you for your contribution towards advancing student achievement here in Park City!

 

To check out all of our recent grants, please visit Investment in Education on our website.

 Teacher Spotlight

Terry Deanitz - 5th Grade Teacher at TSES Originally from Southern California, Terry knew from a very young age she wanted to be a teacher. "It's funny, because I am a 5th grade teacher, and it was in 5th grade that I knew I wanted to be a teacher. It just came over me!" She graduated from Cal State Los Angeles, and then received her credential at Azusa Pacific University. "I was hired to teach a bilingual Spanish Kindergarten class in Azusa. I spoke French, and went to school 4 nights a week to learn Spanish!"

 

"We had visited friends in Park City, and decided we wanted to bring up our family there. We had three boys, and moved when they were 8, 6, and 4. I wasn't planning on teaching, but a friend told me Parley's needed another kinder teacher, and it wouldn't hurt to know Spanish. That was in 1996, and I've been working for PCSD ever since. I taught at Parley's for 6 years, was the 6th grade Language Arts teacher at Treasure when it was the IB school for 3 years, and moved to Trailside in 2006."

 

"The difference teaching in Park City versus other districts is the parental, district, and private donation support. The possibilities are endless here. If you really need or want something to improve your classroom, you tend to get it in some way, shape or form. Each of my sons went all the way through here, and it's just amazing what they've been given - in every grade."

 

When asked about the best part of her day, Terry says, "There isn't a day that goes by that my students don't give me something to laugh or smile about. We just enjoy our time together every day."

 

Terry's boys have all graduated, and one is now the ETS at Jeremy Ranch! Her favorite pastime is, "Running with my dear friend (and fellow teacher) Becky Brady."

Marie Shepherd - Counselor at Ecker Hill Middle School

Marie is one of the counselors at Ecker Hill Middle School, and started at Parley's Park 22 years ago. "My career originally started in San Diego as a therapist at a psychiatric hospital. I worked there for 10 years. My husband (PCHS PE and Football Coach Mike Shepherd) was originally from Utah, and we decided we wanted to bring up our family here. It was the only affordable way to live in a ski resort town!"

 

"I became the drug and alcohol prevention counselor for Salt Lake School District and alternative and vocational counselor for SLCC. My boys were going to school in Park City, and I decided I wanted to work up here. I was hired by Martha Crook to be the counselor at Parley's, and went to Ecker when it opened."

 

"The biggest difference working in Park City is the sense of community here. I relish and respect this community. The parents are caring, passionate people, they really care about kids futures. Across the district, there are amazing opportunities for students, and it's because of the high energy and passion teachers have for their students. Park City works really hard to serve the needs of every single student. We don't leave a student unrecognized, and that's pretty special."

 

"The best part of my day is when we can laugh with kids, when we can use humor. It can get pretty intense, so when we can use humor with kids and teachers and administrators, it helps! It's so fun to work with these middle school kids!

 

Marie's boys are grown now, and she is a grandmother, "My oldest has two children, with one more on the way." She loves to ski, hike, bike (both mountain and road) and read.

 

Everyone loved the freestyle sports at the Olympics last month. But you need more than athleticism to make it to the top. Come learn about the science behind the sport at 'The Physics of Freestyle,' presented by the University of Utah and PCEF. Find out from U of U professors and real freestyle athletes how sport and science meet, at the Eccles Center on March 27th. Doors open for an expo at 2:30, presentation begins at 3:30. All are welcome, and it's free!

Park City School Board Elections    

 

The filing window for Park City School Board candidates opens March 14th and closes March 20th.    

 

School Board information can be found at: www.pcschools.us