CMS PTO General Board Meeting
February 18, 2015
Attendees: Enrique Rosales, Laura Siegfried, Tessa Tarr, Connie Plumleigh, Ashley Franklin, Rachel Petrie, Sarah Hittner, Melissa Garland, Kristin Chapman, Sarah Gottsch, Debbie Stasio, Jen Brandon, Tracey Meara, Suzanne Wanamaker, Elaine Southall, Edie Widoff, Diana Moreland, Victoria Cantor, Darcy Kinnersley, Arunime Vaishnav, Wendy Simon, Pam Lukes
Rachel Petrie – Co-President – Welcome & Introductions at 12:06 pm
Enrique Rosales – Puppy Love Dance on February 6 from 6-8 p.m. was a great success. Attendance was probably double from last year’s. More 7th and 8th graders attended compared to last year’s. Proceeds will go to Canine Companions. We have an amazing staff that presented the evening dance as a way to avoid competing with kids visiting Belleview Square. We were very mindful with security for student safety. The small gym served as the food area. We are also considering a continuation dance for 8th graders.
New graduation requirements are a big responsibility for us here at CMS and we want to avoid any surprises for families to insure kids are prepared for high school and college. The new graduation requirements process does have some benefits in insuring we are reaching each student.
Ryan Silva - Principal of Cherry Creek High School – Highlighted common questions that 8th grade parents have for high school. He has been with the school for 16 years. He is proud of the amount of opportunities that CCHS has for our students, but knows that this can be overwhelming to many. CCHS does “large” well, and has for many years. 3,518 students attend CCHS this year, and next year may be as big as 3,535.
There are many opportunities available throughout the five core areas including foreign languages. We spend less money on the electives but have a tremendous amount of offerings (i.e...Orchestra went from 2 sections to 3). PE classes and performing arts classes tend to be bigger. Our English class size average is 24.5 students, Social Studies 27.3, Math over 28, and I prefer that core is at 28. Language Department varies, with Spanish being bigger – not to exceed 30 students.
We have many opportunities for students at grade level, above grade level, and students who are not proficient. Seniors can take AP Lit, Creative Writing, Shakespeare, Writing on Film, etc. Electives are also available – Ropes Course, Indoor Rock Wall, Adventure Water.
We have at least 90 clubs, mostly interest driven (if there is low enrollment, then the club may not exist for that particular year). Many clubs have varied levels to include JV and Varsity. Every season there is at least one non-cut sport. 9 out of 26 sports are non-cut.
Transition into high school can be tough, especially at Creek due to size. However, the transition into college is very smooth due to being very well prepared from attending CCHS (walking between buildings, building their own schedules, etc.)
Ryan Silva is a parent, with young children 3rd grader, soon to be Kindergartener, and an 18 month old. Please ask me questions that a parent would want to know.
Question: Should my child register for the harder class or take the grade level class and change later?
Always can do level changes – I would go with registering into a harder class, and then changing within a month as it is easier to go down to an easier class. It also depends on what sections are available. Looking at one class, CP vs. Honors – partner with us and make sure your child is not overextending themselves. CMS and Dr. Rosales are doing a great job in making sure that your child is prepared for CCHS. Religions obligations and sports are also time consuming – make sure you are doing what’s best for your child and his/her commitments.
It is not advisable for kids to take 7 classes “just because” – that is too much. Having 2 off periods is helpful to stay on top of homework. As a 9th grader PE requirement is good to get over with as it alleviates a tough schedule of homework as a freshman. Some kids will have a heavier load because they are ready for it.
We don’t require foreign language as a requirement to graduate from CCHS, however most colleges require 3-4 years of a foreign language. We have 5 languages here at CCHS.
Spanish 2 and 2.5 both go to Spanish 3. Spanish 2.5 is for those students who aren’t quite ready for Spanish 3. From both levels you can be recommended to 3-4 Honors.
Question: My daughter is doing 2 different Language Arts sections – is this too much? Or is that a normal load?
It depends on colleges she is looking at – Writing on Film can be a class that colleges don’t favor on a transcript, although it is a difficult class. It just doesn’t appear to be a serious class on a transcript.
Question: What has changed in the past few years at CCHS?
Science and Math have changed a bit
Creek 101 is a bit different
Where is our money from the Marijuana legislation?
Applying for colleges is harder for kids now from when we were in college. We have had a fluctuation of marijuana and alcohol offenses. We have Red Ribbon Week, we bring in drug dogs twice a year thanks to Greenwood Village – no hits for 5 years now. Of course we prefer that kids don’t do drugs at all, but we take possession and drug offenses very seriously. We also discuss drug use in Creek 101. This year we have not yet hit double digits in drug offenses, I don’t think we’ve even hit 10 offenses of kids we have caught. We do our very best to catch those who are offending – most offenses are told to us by other students or the anonymous Care Line.
Question: How will new graduation requirements look?
It’s not just through credits, but also proficiencies. Now there is legislation talk downtown that they are thinking about reducing graduation requirements. The current grad requirements for 2021 are changing to be much harder. Maybe it only needs to be English and Math currently which may be a good balance. Showing proficiencies for every kid is a challenge as every child is different. Things could change but administration is working on it – this will mostly affect those kids who aren’t good test takers or are told that they are not currently proficient. These children will have to take several tests to hit a proficiency.
Question: 8th grade parents need clarification of CP Accelerated Math
CP means you’re meeting the grade level curriculum, Accelerated Math is a little big quicker, Honors is the highest level and goes much quicker. CP is the grade level class. “Accelerated” doesn’t mean much to admission officers, as it’s not weighted. However, Honors or AP classes are based on a 5.0 scale vs. Accelerated and CP which is on a 4.0 scales. All 3 are meeting college requirements, and 2 are surpassing
Weighted and unweighted GPA is listed on transcripts for colleges.
Question: What is best for my child, a 504 or special arrangements with each teacher? How does the 504 process look?
Your child must qualify. If your child is maintaining proficient markings s/he will not qualify for a 504. The 504 process must be completed within the year.
Question: Where are we with the ranking debate for transcripts?
We have the ability for students to be ranked, however I feel it hurts kids more than helping them. We give kids the option, and they can request it as an option for their transcript.
Derek. Phelan – One Book, One Campus
Dr. Rosales complimented Mr. Phelan and his hard work in the library, and its welcoming environment. Mr. Phelan makes sure that the library is a place for everyone here at CMS.
One Book, One Campus is a great opportunity and I’d like to thank you for your proceeds to make this happen. This began when a PTO member approached CMS with a donor and other parents on board. This is “reading for the sake of reading”. Kids were extremely engaged with last year’s inaugural One Book, One Campus. Teachers aren’t being asked to do anything extra. Last year we were missing an avenue for kids t discuss the book, so this year we will be hosting book talks by trying to utilize more technology through Schoology. We also will have 7 interactive QR codes in the library for kids to watch a video and answer questions to enter for a raffle.
Teaser video was played today. At 6:00 tonight on the library website the book will be revealed. We will also play the book trailer tomorrow morning. The school will be transformed with the world’s 7 wonders.
With a donation from parents, we purchased a t-shirt for every staff member who wanted one. The author will be sending in a video that students will watch on Friday. Peter Lerangis who has written over 160 books and is flying in from New York for next Tuesday’s celebration.
On Monday - tables will be set up for each of the 4 main characters in the cafeteria. Tuesday author Peter Lerangis will be visiting and handing out books. He hand signed 800 book stickers for the student books. At 3:00 community members are welcome to visit CMS to meet the author in the cafeteria. Wednesday - an inflatable basketball game for a piece of candy. Thursday – every lunch room kids will be competing to build the tallest wonder with spaghetti and marshmallows. Friday – teachers will be wearing togas and kids will receive a small temporary tattoo that ties in with the book
We are really excited as this is building a sense of community here at CMS. We are still in need of volunteers for next week and will send a call out in the next TWAC. Pay it Forward has evolved and we will be lending books for those who wish, to Belleview Elementary. Last year’s book was so successful and has greatly impacted the incoming 6th graders this year.
One reason last year’s One Book, One Campus books aren’t coming back is due to students having younger siblings, and the fact that the book is in a series.
Tessa – Spring allocations came to $35,000 for teachers. There will be more trickling in with school store and King Soopers grocery cards.
Laura Siegfried
Laura called to approve the November 19, 2014 Exec Board minutes, Rachel motioned and Melissa seconded, all were in favor & none opposed.
Rachel Petrie –
On the CMS website there is a pie chart of how monies are allocated, and we welcome all families to attend to vote on how allocations are spent. How the money is being allocated was posted with PTO minutes on the CMS website. We will put expenditures on the PTO web page. This way the community will see how the money is being spent, which may encourage more donations.
Nomination process is still under way for several positions still open, and Kristin Chapman has been working very hard on this. Please contact PTO if you are interested.
Our next PTO General meeting will be held March 18, 2015 at noon in the library.
Meeting adjourned 1:06 pm