THE PEN CONNECTION
November 2015

In This Issue
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Congratulations to our Superintendent
Bruce Messinger!

Parent Engagement Network congratulates our very own Superintendent of Boulder Valley School District, Dr. Bruce Messinger, for being named Colorado's Superintendent of the Year by the Colorado Association of School Executives! 
Click here to



Greetings!
  

It is hard to believe that November is already upon us. Daylight savings time, midterms/finals, and mid-year breaks are around the corner. Even winter activities begin to ramp up after Halloween passes. Sometimes the hustle and bustle of busy schedules and deadlines can make it difficult for families to stay connected and spend time together. That is one of the reasons PEN focuses so much on communication! This was the focus of our last volunteer coaching session; what you can do to improve communication both at home and school. We talked about the communication strategies that are stressed by the National PTA to improve family - school partnership, as well as those you can implement at home to strengthen your relationship with family members.

Read more ...


Shelly D. Mahon, PhD
PEN Executive Director


PEN EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS 

- - - click on below underlined word/s for web or document link - - -
 
 
  
Coming Events --------


THIS WEEK!
Diane Israel
Beauty Mark , A PEN documentary film
screening with Diane Israel.
 
11/3, Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. at Cinebarre Theater in Louisville,  
 6:30 movie screening.  Diane will lead a discussion following the film.
Join us for a PREMIER SCREENING of the UPDATED version of Diane Israel's documentary. This is a fresh, honest film about self-image and the disconnect between our minds and our bodies. Beauty Mark exposes the myriad of emotional, cultural and psychological influences that compel us to measure ourselves against an elusive standard of physical perfection - sometimes at the price of our own health.  We invite you to be in community and be at home in your own skin. Together let's build a community that develops a positive sense of self and acceptance of others. 
 


 
Creating a Culture of Dignity 
Rosalind Wiseman
with Rosalind Wiseman
11/5, Thursday, 7-8:30pm at Manhattan Middle School    
with Simone Marean, Girls Leadership
Simone is a co-founder of GLI and
her presentationhas received rave reviews
from sold out crowds

- 11/9,  Monday, 6:30 - 8:00pm at Louisville Middle School
- 11/10, Tuesday, 6:30 - 8:00pm at Centennial Middle School
REGISTER HERE for Centennial Event
- 11/12, Wednesday, 5:30 at Nederland Middle/High School
FREE light dinner and FREE childcare provided. 
Suggested donation is $10
To register for the event and request free childcare, please contact Ann Sherman at
[email protected] or call 303)642_0875. 



RSVP to Kelli Duggan by Wednesday, 11/3 to reserve your spot & to indicate if you need Spanish interpretation.

 
Beyond Measure, A PEN documentary film showing             
12/4, Friday, 6:00-8:30pm at  Platt Middle School   
                 
If you missed the first showing of this wonderful documentary 
at Platt on 10/19, don't miss the 12/4 showing of this important film.   
REGISTER HERE  
 

with Lisa Shanken, Certified Health Coach Personal Trainer, Tri Wellness 
12/7, Monday, 5-6:00pm at Foothill Elementary
REGISTER HERE
 

Dr. Alexis Saccoman will lead a free dynamic presentation for middle & high school parents
12/7, Monday, 6-7:30pm at Centennial Middle School Library
  
 
PEN is Contributing Sponsor to --------  
Sundance Film "Most Likely to Succeed" comes to Boulder!

Mackintosh Academy,
An IB World School for Gifted Children brings this Sundance hit documentary which addresses the question, "What will your children really need to succeed in the 21st century?and begins the search for new solutions.   Additionally, there will be panels where we can join local education luminaries to discuss and design what you can do as a parent or teacher to create the next generation of innovators at school and at home.
- 11/4, Wednesday, 6-8:45pm at Casey Middle School -REGISTER HERE
- 11/12, Thursday, 6-8:45pm at Louisville Middle School -REGISTER HERE
 
Past Events -------- 
 
Douglass Elementary PEN and PTO hosted the premiere of "Beyond Measure", the follow-up to "Race to Nowhere."  This film presented schools from elementary to
10/19  Beyond Measure
showing at Platt Middle School
college level that have implemented project based models of student learning successfully.  Motivated schools and districts in NY and TX have also actively
pushed policy makers to allow alternatives to standard state testing that are more timely and meaningful assessments of student growth and learning.  The film was followed by a discussion mediated by Douglass Elem. Principal, Jon Wolfer.  BVSD board members in attendance encouraged parents in our community to be activists and promote positive changes at the district and state legislative level.  The discussion also focused on what individual schools, including Douglass Elementary, could do to promote project based, hands-on, experiential learning within their own classrooms.
- Dr. Usha Barry, Douglass PEN Lead
If you missed this great documentary, please make note that there will be a repeat screening on 12/4 (see below). 

Whose Game Is It Anyway?  
Coal Creek PEN is pleased to report a highly successful event on 10/20/15 when Coal Creek PTA and PEN co-hosted Travis Maron for his presentation on Whose Game is it Anyway? Travis Maron, Physical Education Teacher at Coal Creek Elementary and Centaurus High School basketball coach, held an extremely engaging presentation and discussion on how we, as parents and coaches, can help put the "fun" back in sports for our children. There were close to 30 parents present and the presentation was very informative and allowed for a lot of discussion back and forth. To learn more about Travis and this presentation, click HERE to see the video created by DudeDads.
- Tara Gratz, Coal Creek PEN Lead 
 
 
Kathy Valentine
Click here for this year's PEN Documentary Series in English or in Spanish.  In addition, the individual BVSD School PEN Teams continue to create interesting and must-see events with an invitation to the entire Boulder County Community.  Childcare and Interpretation are available upon request, with advance notice.
Scholarships are available for any paid event - just click on scholarship ticket and indicate number of tickets needed.
CEU's are available for educators - please register through BVSD Avatar AND the PEN registration site to expedite processing.  
 
 Contact Kathy Valentine, 303_810_6456
 
 
SCHOOL TEAM EVENTS and HAPPENINGS

Mark Your Calendars Now for All - 
 
 
COME JOIN US for our November School Team Coaching Meeting -
This session will cover
Standard 3:
Supporting Student Success-
Families and school staff continuously collaborate to support students' learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.

November 11, Wednesday, 11:30--1:00pm  - (NOTE:  School Holiday) 
Location:  Egg & I at 2574 Baseline Rd, Boulder (in the Basemar Shopping Center)  
Croissants, fruit, and coffee will be provided.   
RSVP to Fawnda  
 
    
Questions? Contact Kate Spector or Paula Nelson
        


PEN COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS

Featured Collaborator

of Superior

Offering comprehensive, drug free solutions
for kids struggling with behavioral, social and learning challenges.


Brain Balance of Superior owners Matt and Michaelle Selcke have a unique story.  
 
Matt, Michaelle Selcke & their sons
 
As parents of two amazing boys, they
know firsthand the struggles associated with 
raising kids with behavioral, learning and 
social issues. Their own son was diagnosed 
with severe ADHD when he was just five 
years old. Unhappy with the results and side 
effects of other therapies, Michaelle, a 
licensed occupational therapist, looked for 
other solutions which led her to the Brain 
Balance Achievement Center in Golden, CO. 
Beginning in January 2014, the Selcke's drove
over 180 miles a week so their son could attend the Brain Balance program.


Brain Balance will be hosting a book club
 Kick off will be on Tuesday, 1/12/16 at 6:30 at their center.  It will run for four weeks.


The book to be discussed is Disconnected Kids,written by the creator of the Brain Balance program, Dr. Robert Melillo.
CLICK HERE for Information on the book. 
 


Collaborator News and Links


Sherry Lewis, Licensed Professional
 Counselor
Success Strategies 4 Kids
Friendship, Feelings, Family:  Skills for Life
Upcoming Classes




   
12/3, 6-8:30pm 
Brave, Bold, and Beautiful
celebrates sexual assault survivors and recognizes allies to the cause.
 
 



 
11/4, 7pm
HOPE Lights the Night
Seventh Annual Candlelight
Vigil to Remember Those Lost to Us by Suicide




11/5, 7-8:30pm
for parents of middle & high school students
Teaching Heart Institute




Most Likely to Succeed
11/4 @ Casey Middle
11/12 @ Louisville Middle
6-8:45pm
includes panel discussion


Boulder Psychological Services
Special Education Parent Support Center

Parents of NeuroDiverse 
11/4, 6-8pm at the
BVSD Ed Center

XYZ of IEPs
11/10, 6-8pm 



11/9 @ LMS
11/10 @ Centennial
11/12 @ Nederland Middle/High
(see above for more details)

Thank you for participating in these programs which support PEN:


Thank You to CU for their generous fundraising support of PEN!                                                     

Participants brought in $370 for PEN.                   
 
  

Contact: Fawnda Hathaway or 303-523-2070. Click here for details.

 


NEW! - PEN now participates with FlipCause

For Your Everyday & Holiday Shopping, Please Support PEN .....
This "button" appears on each PEN website page.  When you click on on this button, there are two choices - "Donate Now" or "Shop to Support" PEN.  The Shop button brings up about 45 different places (such as Amazon, Target, Expedia, Orbitz, Office Max etc.), and PEN receives a percentage of your purchase from each vendor. 
  
  
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Louisville, CO 80027