LCHS robotics competitors include:  David Gronlund, Alex Gronlund, Alex Iverson, Wade Provaznik, Nate Trout, William Werst, and John Wiens.

World Championships For Robotics Teams.  Two LCHS robotics teams are headed to the World Championship competition in April.  High-school students on "The Highlanders" team #4499 competed in the Inland Empire Regional Tournament in southern California last weekend to qualify, and brought home the prestigious Engineering Inspiration Award.   The award includes a NASA grant for $5,000.   This team, captained by junior William Werst, is a compilation of three high schools - LCHS, Fossil Ridge and Rocky Mountain.  David Gronlund, Alex Gronlund, Alex Iverson, Wade Provaznik, Nate Trout and John Wiens round out the LCHS contingent.    Parent mentors are Tony and Debbie English, Dean and Sondra Iverson, Tim and Barbara Frye.  
 
A second Liberty team advances to another World Competition at a separate level.   Liberty's "FIRST Lego League" team, coached by John and Janelle Rohrbaugh is comprised of junior-high students Michael Hofinger, Taylor Reinke, Joshua Rohrbaugh, David Rohrbaugh, and Michael Werst.   To qualify, the team won the Colorado State Tournament in December.

New members of the LCHS chapter of the National Honor Society were inducted last Monday evening at the Fort Collins City Council Chambers.

NHS Members Inducted.  A packed house at the Fort Collins City Council Chambers cheered on the new inductees to the LCHS Chapter of the National Honor Society last Wednesday.  Chapter president Alisha Eskew called out the names of the newest members who signed their names in the membership log, received a membership patch, and thusly became members of the national society of accomplished scholars.  The Society's members are dedicated to service and scholarship.  The nationwide organization enjoys an esteemed history, and its members enjoy honored status as they move toward high-school graduation.  Congratulations to our LCHS inductees: Sam Arnett, Olivia Bachelet, Shaila Burgess, Joseph Caraway, Anna Davis, Jordyn Farstad, Krista Frable, Jackson Gaebler, Mariya Garland, Molly Gillis, Jared Graham, Jessica Granner, Asha Gupta, Connor Hansen, Timothy Harris, Teresa Hubbeling, Daniel Hunt, Sarah Jensen, Alyssa Kleen, Brooke Lauderback, Eva Morrison, Ande Peersen, Indrani Ray, Kayla Rhoads, London Schafer, Sarah Schaffer, Elena Scott, Margaret Scott, Eric Sprackling, Jake Sutherlin, Ben Trout, Evelyn Wagner, Will Werst, Elizabeth Yeh, and Jesse Zuniga.

Liberty Common High Knowledge Bowl Team Qualifies for State.   Congratulations to our Knowledge Bowl team members:  Lucas Elder, Brooke Lauderback, Sehoo Park, Joshua Pletcher, and Brayden Lane.  On March 3rd, the team qualified for state for the second year in a row.  The team placed 2nd overall in a 14-team field consisting of local-area 2A, 3A, and 4A schools.  In addition, the team eclipsed the 100 point mark for the first time this year.   The team will compete for all-city honors on April 2nd, and will join 60 other teams for the state competition to be held in Colorado Springs on April 17-18.

 

Students Mady Allen and Micayla Kirkman show off the 2014 School Choice Leadership Award certificate that LCHS received last week.

Liberty Receives Leadership Award.   LCHS received the 2014 School Choice Leadership Award from National School Choice Week.  The organization's president Andrew Campanella wrote, "Our team is so pleased that you chose NSCW as a time to celebrate and share with your community what makes your school great!" The accompanying award certificate recognizes LCHS for "tireless dedication toward providing all children with access to effective education options and for participation in National School Choice Week 2014.  

 

LDS Appreciation.  Congratulations to LCHS science instructor Mrs. Dawn Karr and LCHS music instructor Mr. Dave Lunn who were recognized last Wednesday at an annual teacher-recognition ceremony by local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Twenty-nine LDS seniors from throughout the Fort Collins area nominated teachers and spoke to the crowd about their favorite instructors.  LCHS Senior Kalee Blanchard spoke about Mr. Lunn.  Former Liberty student Malorie Bond spoke about Mrs. Karr.  Former LCHS music instructor Mrs. Erin (Voorhies) Battle was recognized, too, by one of her new students where she now teaches in Loveland.
 
European Music-History Adventure.  LCHS music instructor, Mr. Dave Lunn will be leading a group of 21 students and parents to Austria, Germany and Switzerland during Spring Break. The group will visit famous sights related to composers Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Strauss and more in the cities of Vienna and Salzburg. The group will also visit Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria and the cities of Heidelburg, Germany and Lucerne, Switzerland. Mr. Lunn will lead a "Liberty Lecture" on Tuesday, April 15th about his reflections on Vienna and the important music that was created there.  Stay tuned here for information about the lecture.

The Pioneer Institute, last week, released the second of two videos explaining why the new Common Core State Standards are destructive to American education.

Understand "Common Core" Debate.  Liberty parents need to know what's behind the new debate on "Common Core State Standards."  Much has been written about them in the Monday Notes, and much more will be.  Liberty's Board of Directors recently passed a resolution in opposition to the Common Core standards citing concerns about the new costly mandates and the low academic expectations they represent.   Common Core is very different than "Core Knowledge."  The Colorado Department of Education has regrettably embraced Common Core.  The Poudre School District is implementing Common Core for all PSD schools.  Nonetheless, debate rages in these quarters, and across the country, as this radical experiment marches forward.  The Colorado State Senate Education Committee recently considered a bill to delay Colorado's implementation of Common Core for a year.  Liberty's Resolution was specifically mentioned as a part of the Senate's debate.  Ridgeview officially opposes Common Core, and so do many other charter schools.  Moreover, a handful of states have opted out of Common Core including Texas, Virginia, Alaska and Nebraska.  Please click on the nearby video link to watch the second of two expository videos produced by the Massachusetts-based Pioneer Institute which describes why Liberty prefers proven academic strategies over the nationalized and unorthodox experimentation of Common Core.

Volunteers Needed for the 2014 Graduation Reception.
We are looking for a group of junior parents to carry on the tradition of coordinating Graduation Reception.  It was a simply wonderful event last year coordinated by Pam Belleville, Ruth Lanciotti, and Jamie Knab.   Any junior parents interested in volunteering should contact Mrs. Stoltzfus by March 28th.

 "My oldest daughter graduated last year.  Graduation weekend was a busy time for the parents of Seniors as we planned parties, hosted family and friends, and focused on our graduating students.  I was so thankful for the beautiful reception that was planned by the parents of LCHS Juniors and Sophomores.  The reception gave the opportunity for students to socialize with their families, their teachers, and with each other before we all scrambled for different graduation parties.  Hopefully, we can keep this tradition going.  Currently, my daughter Elizabeth, is a Junior, and I am one of the parents who plans to volunteer with this year's reception.   Please consider helping out.  You will be happy and thankful next year when your student is graduating."   
-Annie Yeh

Taxonomy of Aesthetics.   The next Liberty Lecture will focus on art and will take place on Tuesday, March 25th from 6:30 - 7:30PM in the LCHS Great Hall.   Attendees will learn about various classifications of art, artistic relationships and art appreciation.  LCHS instructors Megan Ellis and Rex Seiple will walk the audience through key characteristics of classical and modern art, providing commentary on art history, appreciation and theory.  They will also underscore the intensity of art instruction in the Core Knowledge Sequence.  The pair provided a preview at a recent LCHS staff meeting, which was received by the faculty and administration with great enthusiasm.  As with all Liberty Lectures, this interesting lesson is open tents alike.

Office hours:

7:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m.

Phone # is (970) 672-5500

 

Attendance Line:

(970) 672-5500, option 2  

All students who arrive after 7:45 a.m. must be signed in at Front Office.

 

Student checking out early?  If you have a student who will leave school early for any reason (appointments, sports, etc.), please have him or her stop by the front office in the morning with a note signed by a parent to pick up a pass. This allows your student to leave class promptly and minimize classroom interruptions.  If you have questions please
contact Ms.Burke.

Student Store, Eagle's Landing.  Purchase snacks, coffee and school spirit gear at our student-run school store.  Hours of operation are:  M-F:  7:15-7:40, 11:05-11:25 (closed block days during lunch), and  3:15 - 3:30.

Please Drive Courteously. 
We have several young, inexperienced student drivers. Please be patient with them.

Lost and Found.   Unclaimed items must be claimed promptly. Items will be donated to charity regularly.  

The following summer enrichment programs are available.  Enrollment is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please click on the links below for the informational flyer.   Inquires should be directed to the teachers running the sessions.

Summer English Program:  
Contact:  Mr. Dybzinski

Summer Keyboarding Program: 
Contact:  Mr. Kranz

Summer Math Program:  Contact Mrs. Salehi

The Liberty fans show their support for the girls at the start of their game against Akron.  Photo credit:  Susie Ellis

What do all these words have in common?

Per se	Visa versa	Bona fide
Alma mater	Magnum opus	Quasi
Alter ego	Verbatim	Status Quo

 

March 29th, 7:30AM at LCHS: ACT TEST (Free)

April 5th, 9AM at LCHS: Results/Overview (Free)

Seniors Accepted to College:

For questions regarding athletics, contact Dan Knab, or call him at 672-5508.

CLICK HERE to access the Liberty Common Schools Athletic Booster Club Facebook website.  

Rob Knab, congratulates teammates after beating Sedgwick on Friday afternoon in the Regional tourney at Rocky Mt HS.   Photo credit:  Susie Ellis.

 

THIS WEEK IN JR. HIGH SPORTS:
 

If the coach does not have a BLUE CARD from your athlete, they will not be able to practice.  

 

Track & Field

Parent Meeting:  Today, Monday, March 10th - 6:00 P.M. to 6:45P.M. - Liberty Common High School Gym
 
Practice - Monday, March 24 - 3:30-5:00 pm Liberty Common Elementary

First & Last Meet - Thursday, April 3rd & Monday, May 5th  (Full schedule should be set and handed out at the meeting).

Try-outs are today, Monday, March 10th, 3:30PM to 5PM, location to be announced on website: http://sites.google.com/site/eaglessweat/  CLICK HERE for the game schedule.  

 

To Contact Coaches

 

Girls Soccer:  Chuck Hubbeling chubbeling@libertycommon.org 

Track:  Donny Reeves dreeves@libertycommon.org   

Liberty's Board and Administration subscribes to this view: It is the right and responsibility of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children. To help you accomplish this goal, we encourage you to learn the foundational principles contained within Liberty's charter. In upcoming Monday Notes, you'll find a new quiz question pulled right from our charter. Test yourself. The correct answer can be found in the notes as well.  The charter can be found on our website. 

19.) Non-instructional television viewing is discouraged because it  (Circle all that apply)
a)    Is passive and discourages creative play
b)    Is diametrically opposed to reading
c)    May stifle cognitive development and imagination
d)    Trivializes information
e)    Undermines values
f)    Distorts cause and effect
g)    Is unable to portray thought
h)    Is the agent of a vast right-wing conspiracy

 

"Rule No.  90.  Hands.  Manicured nails and clean hands are basic requirements for a well-dressed girl.  To manicure in public is just as unforgivable as to brush your teeth in public.  Avoid a high polish and a freaky shape for the nails.  Each girl determines the shape of nail best suited for her own hand.
 
"Rule No. 91.  Undergarments.  Proper underclothes protect the outer garments from danger of stain and from perspiration.  They must be easily washed and kept in repair.  Be careful that shoulder-straps are clean, fresh, and in place.  Never allow them to be exposed."