Principal News from the Swamp

Gators Making Waves in the Playoffs!

2012-02-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

We are so excited about the post season for our winter sports teams! Both boys and girls basketball teams hosted first round games right here in the swamp over the past two nights and won both games. The boys are now headed to Grandview for a 7pm Friday night game and the girls will be headed to Highlands Ranch HS for a Saturday evening game with a start time TBD. Those wins are historical at SLHS as it was the boys' programs first playoff win in school history and the first time both teams have not only hosted a first round game, but won.
Our hockey team starts their post season run this Friday as they face Liberty for a 4:30 game at the APEX center in Arvada. A win on Friday would most likely match them up with cross county rivals Ralston Valley as that game would be played on Saturday night with time TBD at the APEX.
GO GET EM GATORS!!!

ALL ACTIVITES FOR Friday February 17th are a GO-

2012-02-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

SLHS Community,
After yesterday's building threat and evacuation all building activities/plans for today Friday February 17th and moving forward. We are working with district leadership on a decision regarding the cancellation of parent/teacher conferences. I will get something out to the community early next week.

I want to extend a big thank you to our staff, student, and community efforts during this emergency and how it was handled. We received great remarks from emergency personnel on your attitude, compliance, and overall attention to detail.

Three very big events this evening-
Girls basketball vs. Pomona at SLHS- Varsity 5:30 (if you pay to attend the girls game, your stamp will get
you into the boys game @ Pomona as well)
Boys basketball vs. Pomona @ Pomona- Varisty 7:00
Boys Varsity Ice Hockey- vs. Ralston Valley- @ the Promenade- 7:15pm

Thank you....

Understanding State Assessments

2012-02-08T06:17:00.000-08:00

Parents and community,
As we approach our annual State assessment window, I wanted to shed some light on the assessments that both 9th and 10th grade students will take. Through federal mandates, states are required to implement state run assessments for progress monitoring. As you know the Colorado state assessment for years has been called the CSAP (Colorado Student Assessment Program). This year thet state implemented new standards and therefore our new assessment is called TCAP (Transitional Colorado Assessment Program). Assessments are designed to assess students on the material learned in classes as courses follow the state curriculum/standards. The new TCAP will assess any and previous standards that are on the new adopted state standards. These assessments are VERY important to schools as we receive a grade/rating based on student results. As a staff we work dilligently to help students understand and respect the assessment as a progress tool. I am asking your dilligence in both supporting the TCAP program and encouraging your son or daughter to take this assessment seriously to provide staff an understanding of how SLHS students are performing based on their instruction. I do appreciate this community tremendously and know we will continue our partnership toward excellence.

Apple Announcement and Gator Updates

2012-01-20T17:16:00.000-08:00

Apple made a big announcement this week about a new resource that it has created to allow educators to create their own textbooks. The new iBooks Author is the future of digital education. In addition, Apple announced the expansion of it's iTunes U to include textbooks for K-12 and not just Higher Ed.

January 24th- Financial Aid Night- Auditorium- 6:30pm

January 24th- Future Gator Night- Boys basketball vs. Lakewood HS- 7:00pm GYM

January 30th- 8th Grade Parent night- SLHS 6:00pm

TCAP- (formerly CSAP)- We are still looking for donated snacks for students during our testing. Please contact Wendi Johnston for more information at 303-982-3311

Happy New Year

2012-01-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

I wanted to extend my wishes for a Happy New year to this tremendous community. I am looking forward to a successful Spring Semester in the Swamp as we begin the new year/semester. I encourage you to stay involved with the school community and continue supporting Gator Nation on all levels. My goal is not to just work harder for the school community but to improve and continue the journey toward excellence in partnership with you.

We have some difficult decisions approaching as our budget issues continue to be a point of emphasis. The school board will be hosting budget forums early in 2012 for community, students, parents, and staff to discuss the buget cut proposals. When those dates/times are announced I will get them posted.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow"

Einstein

Coffee with the Principal Part 2

2011-12-11T22:30:00.000-08:00

I would like to extend a personal inviation to our community next Wednesday morning to my second "coffee with the principal event". While its not a formal event, I would love to visit with our community, especially parents whom i've not had the pleasure of meeting to date. This month's event will take place on Wednesday, December 14th from 6:00am to 7:00am at the Starbucks on 102nd and Wadsworth just North of 100th place. No agendas or tasks just time to visit and talk.

Swamp Showcase Highlights

2011-12-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

The 2nd Annual Swamp Showcase was a big success! The night was full of energy and provided prospective parents/students a snapshot of our exciting school environment. Each department had an opportunity to showcase and highlight their curriculum and provide a glimpe of our school culture. The night served as a great opportunity to meet with an array of potential students to include IB candidates to discuss and promote SLHS. Thank you to my staff, students and our community for supporting this event and helping make SLHS a GREAT place to be!
Please enjoy the pictures highlighting our showcase event!

Swamp Showcase November 29th

2011-11-27T20:55:00.000-08:00

SLHS Community,
I hope you had a wonderful and very blessed Thanksgiving vacation full of good food, family, and plenty of relaxation time. As we return to school, semesters end is quickly approaching and the new year will be upon us before we know it.

Our second annual Swamp Showcase event will take place this Tuesday night November 29th at SLHS from 6:00-8:30pm. The event will highlight the comprehensive opportunities, enahnced curriculums, athletics/activities, and our AP/IB programs for all interested students. Our staff is extremely excited and prepared to exhibit and demonstrate our unique/high quality programs and showcase what makes SLHS a tremendous learning environment for any student. Please invite students and/or parents with interest to the event.

Thank you,

Budget Woes??

2011-11-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

SLHS Community,
As we enter the Holiday season, our staff is dealing with imminent changes as discussions begun around the proposed $70 million budget cuts over the next two years. In our November 10th meeting educators' passion along with cocerns from our school community were heard. The possibility of schools losing staff and possibly compensation has created some tension within the district. From the 20+ members of our school budget committee, each proposed innovative ideas for cuts and made a stand to get their voice heard without taking the survey provided by the district. I have total faith and trust in both my staff and our community to find the appropriate avenues and forums to be heard. Dr. Stevenson is visiting our school today to provide an in depth glimpse into the process and of course try and answer the multitude of questions surrounding the budget.

I want to personally thank you as a community for all the support you continue to provide SLHS. As we enter into a new phase of education with the very real possibility of larger class sizes, less course offerings, and possibly a differentiated school week, our partnership is becoming even more integral to our success than ever before. We need to be a united front working to enhance the learning for all of our students. I know this community will continue to move forward, step up, and be dilligent with the work that lies ahead.

Empty Bowls/Area Music and Coffee w/ the Principal events

2011-11-11T14:54:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to celebrate our area youth music talents and at the same time contribute as a community to those less fortunate with pieces of art made by our very own students and staff. The event was a huge success and brought a very generous donation to the Arvada food bank that supports so many in the area especially as we get closer to the Holidays. What a gift to be involved with a program that helps so many families and continues to be a guiding light for those in need. The music event was amazing as our gymnasium was standing room only as nearly 400 talented musicians performed for parents, staff, and the community. The talent in this area is amazing and was highlighted with pieces from each area school.

My first coffee with the principal event took place Wednesday night. I had an opportunity to chat and interact with a few SLHS parents. Discussions around our upcoming budget issues, philosophies, and just simple chat highlighted the evening. I look forward to meeting and having discussions with you once again next month along with those that didn't have a chance to attend as we meet again on December 14th. I am considering changing next months time from 5:30pm to 6:00am. Look for updates on my blog and on the SLHS homepage.

Doing More with Less- The new expectation

2011-10-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

SLHS Community,

As you are well aware, education in the state of Colorado is in dire straits. We are facing another round of extreme budget cuts in JEFFCO to the tune of $70 million over the next two years due to the cuts at the state level. We faced a significant cut this past year and are feeling the effects of that cut on multiple levels from low morale, to overfilled plates, to the stress of new budget cuts on the horizon. We have an outstanding staff at SLHS that continues to go above and beyond every day to provide the most comprehensive and productive learning environment. As we enter new conversations about budget cuts and where those cuts will be made, staff is understandably concernced with the outcome.

Congratulations to our school newspaper as they recently attended the Colorado High School Press Association day and were honored with an All Colorado recognition. SLSH is one of only 12 schools in the entire state of Colorado to receive this presigeous recognition and the only JEFFCO school.

Second 6 week grading period ends on November 11th. This is a great time to encourage your student to utilize the STUDIO on off hours, Wednesday morning resource time and Study Hall.

I want to encourage all parents to get involved in the SLHS school community. We have a variety of organizations committed to the school. You can find more information about our parent committees to include GET(parent accountability), PTSA(Parent/Teacher), SLAB(Athletic Boosters) and others on our home website http://www.slhsgators.com/

Jeff Pierson

Connections with the Community

2011-10-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

SLHS community,

My goal is to continue communicating, partnering, and working within the scope of our community perimeter to provide the most comprehensive education possible for the students that walk through our doors everyday. The will take an extended effort from each and every stakeholder involved to include the students, our staff, parents, and our community leaders. If you have ideas on how we can better connect/partner to improve, please get in touch with me directly.

I, along with members of our Administrative team will be offering a "community coffee with the principal" opportunity for all community members. This will take place at Starbucks on 101st and Wadsworth on the second Wednesday of each month from 5:30-7:00. The first event will take place on Wednesday November 9th. No set agenda but a time for me(us) to better connect with you as a community.

SLHS Principal Blog-

2011-10-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

Hello SLHS community,
We are promoting school spirit and unity for the next three Fridays with the following themes.
Friday October 14th- "FLOOD THE SWAMP" - Students and staff are encouraged to wear BLUE.
Friday October 21st- Drug Awareness Week- Students and staff encouraged to wear RED.
Friday October 28th- (October) Breast Cancer Awarness Month- Encouraging all students and staff to wear PINK- We are also asking that anyone attending the football game that evening wear Pink as well as our football team will be wearing pink items for the cause as well.

Our IB program is selling PINK gators that will be displayed in the front entrance windows for the entire month of October with all proceeds going to Susan G. Kome for the Cure foundation.

Please look for upcoming information on "Community coffee night with the Principal" One night a month I will schedule a time at the Starbucks on 101st and Wadsworth. We will start in November with a date and time TBD.

Community Budget Forum will be scheduled at SLHS sometime during the week of November 7th. Please look in upcoming posts for exact date and time. We are facing more budget deficits and want to keep you as a community in the loop on what cuts are being proposed and how that will affect SLHS.

Jeff Pierson- Principal