TCAP

SLHS Community,

Thank you very much for your support during the past two days with our annual TCAP testing.  Its important to know that we had a 98% plus attendance rate, the best since I have been at SLHS.  That shows me the message we are sending to both our students and community is being heard and is of significance.  As noted in last week's blog, we are now using a "portfolio" of information to help determine college and career readiness.  This portfolio helps staff and counselors in conjunction with parents find the "right"courses for students and will be used to determine enrollment in honors, AP, and IB courses.  We are half way home with TCAP testing, but the assessments will continue once again next Tuesday and Wednesday-  See the schedule below- 

Monady March 11- Regular Period 1-8

Tuesday March 12- TCAP Testing-  7:45 Start Time

Wednesday March 13- TCAP Testing-  7:45 Start Time

Thursday March 14- Wednesday Block Day- Periods 1,3,5,7

Friday March 15- Thursday Block Day- Periods 2,4,6,8

** We will once again serve breakfast to all students both Tuesday and Wednesday starting at 7:00am in the cafeteria- Please help support you son or daughter and encourage healthy eating and a good nights sleep on Sunday and Monday night for the best results. 

"Portfolio" The New SLHS Buzz Word

Parents,

We have recently begun discussing a new buzz word for our students at SLHS.  "PORTFOLIO"  We are using this term to engage students in learning the how and what is needed to be college and career ready over the course of their four years in HS.  With that said we as a staff have spent time and energy looking through data, discussing ways to determine what's the "right" course for students to take to include honors, AP, and possibly IB.  Here are some talking points we are using with our students-

- Students ability to take adanvced, honors, AP and IB courses can and will be reflective of his/her score on standardized tests.
- We can now utilize data from standardized assessments, GPA, other sources in both 9th and 10th grade to help determine what a student is projected to score on the ACT which is the PRIMARY entry exam for colleges across the nation.
- Our registration process now includes a portfolio of information on the registration card so teachers, counselors, parents, and students can make necessary and proper recommendations for selected courses.
- Data shows that remedation rates (college level courses required for students to take if they are not ready for college level material in an area which cost and does not count towards graduation) significantly decrease with the more college level courses taken in high school. 

We will continue communicating this important information to our student body but feel its also important that parents too understand the significance of student performance in ALL areas of their high school education. 

Jeff Pierson

Proud to be An AMERICAN Ceremony

SLHS Community,

I am very proud and honored to announce that SLHS was awarded the Proud to be An American Award by the Korean War Veterans Association at a ceremony that took place this morning in our Library.  Our staff, students, and community are recognized for our dedication to the recognition of veterans, patriotism, and the education of students about this great country!  We will display this recognition placque proudly.  In addition to the recognition, we too received a letter from Governor Hinkenlooper honoring our efforts as a staff, student body and as a community.   You can see pictures to the right of this post-

A special thanks to the teachers pictured Ms. Jennifer Brooks and Ms. Megan Madsen for their tireless efforts and work this past November as we hosted an all school assembly where students had the opportunity to meet and talk with veterans, learn about our nations history, and share stories from these past that helped shape our nation. 

Hat Day for Jessica Ridgeway Park

SLHS Community,

On Friday February 2nd, SLHS is participating in the Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Fund with a "WEAR A HAT" to school day-  All proceeds from this event will go to the Ridgeway Memorial Fund- 
The cost is $2

EVENT UPDATES-
Sadies Dance- February 9th-  8-11pm    TICKETS- $15 single/  $25 couples

Winter Assembly- February 8th-

NO SCHOOL- February 15th and 18th

1st Grading Period ENDS- February 14th

Parent Confernces- February 21st- 3:30

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

As we prepare for our Spring semester, I wanted to extend a token of appreciation and hope for a successful and productive new year.  We persevered through some tumultuous issues in the Fall, but as always we stayed the path, worked hard, and fought through. 

I am excited to announce that along with the Class of 2013 I was able to fund new tile for the main entry/commons area in our building.  The project is completed and looks amazing!  Please see the pictures located to the right-  THANK you Class of 2013 for the work and financial support in making this project happen. 

For those that havent heard, we lost one of our staff members to a new position.  Robert Van Dyke who taught Family and Consumer Sciences and was our Student Council sponsor accepted the state director position for FCCLA.  Congratulations to Robert on his new endeavor as we wish him the best! 

REMINDER-  When students arrive on Wednesday Jan. 9th we will be on a 1-8 Period schedule for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday- 

1st Semester is coming to a close.....

SLHS Community,

As we enter the final week of the fall semester of 2012 and begin looking toward the new year, I want to thank you for all the love and support during one of the most tragic semesters in the history of SLHS and this community.  The community's support and partnership to our students continues to impress me and I am very proud to be a GATOR. 

"The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win."

— Roger Bannister

Gratitude betows reverance, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. 

John Milton.


1st Semester FINALS-
The finals schedule is on our website so please reference slhsgators.com for the breakdown.  Please note that FRIDAY is a shortened day with no breakfast or lunch served.  Busses depart at 12:15-

Congratulations to both our POMS and CHEER teams as they represented SLHS very well at the state competition last Friday.  The poms team finished 9th which is the highest finish in years at state.  The Cheer team too improved its final position from the past two years.  Both teams did an outstanding job and I am VERY proud of their efforts! 

Gator Updates- Cheer/Poms headed to State!

SLHS Community,

I want to wish both our CHEER and POMS teams the BEST OF LUCK as they head to the state competition tomorrow at the Denver Coliseum.  Our Cheer team will perform at 9:28am and the Poms will pefrom at 2:52pm-  GOOD LUCK GIRLS!

On Wednesday our very own Illusions choir was honored and featured to perform at the all manager/principal meeting at the Educational Support Center.  The group directed by Mr. Randy Wise performed beautifully and received plenty of accolades for their show.  A special thanks to Dr. Stevenson for the invitation to showcase our talented young men and women in the arts.  SEE PICTURES TO THE RIGHT-

FINALS-
The finals schedule is posted as we are extremely close to the close of semester one.  Please make sure you and your student are aware of grades, expectations, and what is needed at this time especially seniors. 

CONGRATULATIONS-
Our speech team performed very well this past weekend with the following student placements-
       o   Elsa Johnson and Tineke Naseef placed first in duo interpretation.

o   Brady Le and Devynn Pruett placed third in duo interpretation.

o   Christa Valdez placed fourth in poetry and interpretation.

o   Emma Asztalos, Courtney Kauffman, Cassie Gardner, Tyler Glenwright-Korte, Steven Emmen, Marcus McKinney, and Isabella Lopez all received ribbons.