School Choice Is The Patriotic Answer

When controversy at a nearby high school made national news, a handful of LCHS students and parents suggested Liberty ought to respond in some public way. Liberty's mere existence is actually the best and most meaningful response to a circumstance like this.

 According to a story reported last week, student-council leaders at a neighboring high school were rebuffed by school administrators when students proposed a "spirit day" dedicated to American patriotism. A national commentator interviewed student leaders who said they were initially told by administrators their idea was a bad one because it might insult non-U.S. citizens.

Journalists quoted a Poudre School District spokesman who confirmed the district's

At the high school, we routinely fly the American Flag alongside the national flags honoring our foreign-exchange students.

Public opinion, energetically expressed, ruled the day as it typically does. The same holds true when opinion and preferences regarding public education are coupled with a parent's ability choose his child's school.

When unsatisfactory circumstances emerge at any school, parents ought to be able to exert sufficient leadership to correct the situation, or to go elsewhere if a solution seems unreasonably difficult to achieve.

People ask me all the time why every school doesn't teach the Core Knowledge Sequence, or why all don't embrace a classical academic philosophy. Some think all schools should teach economics, stress Latin, use Singapore Math, or encourage patriotic citizenship.

While these strategies constitute the best practices, it must be acknowledged that not every parent wants them for their kids. For these and for all parents, there ought to be competing choices, even if inferior ones.

Government, especially a school district, should never be allowed to force its social

The American Flag is reverently displayed in every Liberty classroom including in the school's auditorium, gymnasium and Great Hall.  The school's colors are red, white, and blue.  Pictured here are junior-high students last Wednesday learning about volleyball under the U.S. Flag and Colorado Flag.

Authentic patriotism, in an American context, insists first and foremost upon protecting the rights of individuals, including the right of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children. School choice is always better than one way - always.

Liberty Common School is quite serious about this philosophy. Last week, Liberty's Board of Directors sent a letter to the Thompson School Board supporting the charter renewal of Loveland Classical School (LCS), a Core Knowledge charter school in Loveland.

Although LCS technically competes with Liberty, we see the existence of one more viable, competitive option as good for all students who reside in Northern Colorado. The competition motivates all schools to perform better. Choice compels respect for the prevailing wisdom of public opinion.

For example, parents who want their children to be encouraged in patriotic citizenship know that both Liberty and LCS will always be attractive and reliable options for them. For parents who prefer their child's patriotism be restrained, they enjoy convenient options, too, elsewhere.

The existence of choice satisfies the most people in the most efficient manner possible. Free markets applied to public education create the greatest value - the highest quality for the lowest cost.

This is part of the reason Liberty Common School promotes both school choice and American patriotism all the time, every day. School choice expands true freedom and allows patriotic citizenship to thrive unmolested.

This year's winter carnival will be a Sock Hop on Friday, February 21st., from 6:00 - 8:00 in the gym. All attendees are welcome to dress up in your favorite "greaser" outfit or poodle skirt.

Volunteers will be needed to help with decorating, running stations, serving food and clean up. We also need donations of items for the various stations.  

                   CLICK HERE to volunteer

                   CLICK HERE to donate items 

Pizza and Subway sandwiches will be available for purchase the night of the carnival.   

The Subway sandwiches must be pre-ordered. CLICK HERE for order sheet.  

Thank you so much for your support. We look forward to having a great time!

Board of Directors Election Notice

Elections for two (2) seats on the Board of Directors for Liberty Common School will be held during the week of April 21, 2014 through April 25, 2014.

Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5th, 2014. Board members are elected to three-year terms.

• Registered voter residing in Poudre School District
• Attendance to at least one of the BOD meetings during the school year of the  election
• Read and support wholeheartedly the views presented in the following three books:
  
  > Cultural Literacy by E.D. Hirsch Jr. 
  > Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong by William Kilpatrick 
  > The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have Them by E.D. Hirsch Jr.

• Submission of Letter of Interest for BOD Membership
• Submission of Statement of Educational Philosophy
• Have had a student enrolled at Liberty for a minimum of two years by the time the candidate's term on the BOD would commence
• Volunteer in the school
• Embrace the principles of Liberty's Charter and founding books (evaluated through an interview process)
• Receive a recommendation from principals at either the elementary or the high school

• Volunteer Application for the current school year
• Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement
• Volunteer Oath
• Volunteer Agreement
• Board of Directors Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreement
• Board of Directors Affidavit (subject to a criminal background check)

 Attention Parents:

All students need to be present at the start of the day to ensure continuity of instruction. When students arrive late, teachers spend valuable instruction time going over missed directions with these students. Please review your child's attendance records on the Parent Portal of PowerSchool. If your child has been marked tardy several times, discuss this as a family and make a plan to arrive on time to preserve the integrity of instruction.

If you are dropping off students late to school (it happens), please remember to park your car, go to the front office, and sign in your child. We need a signature to verify that you know they were dropped off late. Students dropped off at 7:59 will not make it to class on time, so please plan to park and come in. This is especially important for parents dropping off in the back. Do not drop off in the back if you are arriving late. Please pull around to the front so that you can sign these students in.

Thank you for your help.

Casey Churchill
Principal of Liberty Common School

Mark your calendars for this year's premier fund-raising event! Liberty's Annual Spring Gala is

Friday, April 4th at 6pm., at Embassy Suites, Loveland.  

Join us for an exciting evening filled with laughter, camaraderie and Eagles' Pride!

The Gala will feature a wonderful Silent Auction, Dessert Auction, Teacher Treasures Auction and fun-filled Live Auction.  

We'll have many fabulous items on which you can bid:

10-day stay in an ocean view Costa Rican home

A Year of Premier Reserved Parking Spots at LCS and LCHS

Precious handmade art pieces created by Liberty's kids

Spring Gala Invitations will be mailed this week! Register prior to Wednesday, March 12th to take advantage of lower-priced tickets and ensure your reservation!

Jr. High Girls Soccer Letter From the Coach:

Dear Parents,
Girls' soccer season is fast approaching!  My name is Chuck Hubbeling and I'm excited to be returning to coach the Liberty Eagles this spring.  I am certified with state "E" license and have coached soccer for 11 years, of which six are at the 6th to 8th grade level.   

Season: March 10th to May 6th

Try-outs: Monday, March 10th, 3:30PM to 5PM, Location to be announced on website:  http://sites.google.com/site/eaglessweat/
 
Practice: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 3:30-5PM.  Location TBD.

Games: 1st game March 24th.  Mondays and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. Home games will be played at the elementary field (LCS). CLICK HERE for the game schedule.
 
 CLICK HERE for the sports packet on the Liberty Common website.

The team is open to all girls in grades six through eight who are interested in playing soccer.  The ideal roster size is 16-18 committed players. We are competitive - we play hard.   Cuts will be made - if necessary.  All paperwork must be turned in to our athletic director, Mr. Knab, before tryouts.  You must have a blue card issued by Mr. Knab in order to tryout.  The $80.00 fee may be paid after the team has been formed but must be paid before the first game.

Player availability will be a factor for team selection.  For example, if your player has late club practice, she is expected to be at Liberty's practice as well.  If she needs to leave a little early for another practice, that can be arranged.  It is important that the entire team practice together as much as possible!  If availability is a factor, please email me a schedule of your daughter's club practices and other commitments before the first day of try-outs.

I'm ready to get this season started!  

Get your Red Shirt On!

Chuck Hubbeling, Ph.D.
970-672-5517
chubbeling@libertycommon.org


  

Liberty Jr. High Spring Sports  

If you are thinking ahead, the first day of practice for spring sports is Monday, March 10.  Blue Cards need to be collected from Mr. Knab by March 7th.  Schedules for Girl's Soccer and Boy's/Girl's Track will be posted on the website on February 7th.

The Core Knowledge Sequence is characterized by knowledge that is
a)    Specific, shared, solid, sequenced