Jeffco Public Schools

Superintendent's Corner

Dear Jeffco Families,

In just a few weeks, we’ll begin the series of celebrations that take place in our schools to commemorate the end of the school year and mark important transitions for our students.

Graduations and continuations are special moments in our lives, and I approach them with deep respect and reverence; not only for the students we celebrate, but also the families, educational staff, and communities that made these moments possible.

It was about this time last year, that I wrote my first Chalk Talk for Jeffco Public Schools. I was still the Superintendent in Eagle County and was working feverishly to end my time there well, while also learning all I could about Jeffco in order to hit the ground running when I officially began last July.

Read more.

Jeffco students, parents, families, staff, and community members may engage with Dr. Glass via Facebook, Twitter @COJasonGlass, and through his blog, advancejeffco.blog.

HOW SHOULD JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY?

Are you interested in connecting schools and the school district to others in Jefferson County? Do you see untapped potential for partnerships between schools and business or community organizations? How could students support the community more, and how can the community support students more? What the heck is FSCP (Family School Community Partnerships)?

If any of these questions pique your interest, please join us on June 12!

Superintendent Dr. Jason Glass is starting a Community Engagement Task Force. After several working meetings, this volunteer group will make recommendations on how the district can engage with the larger Jeffco community, with a focus on reaching residents who do not have a direct connection to schools. The group will meet initially to hear how the district reaches out currently, give initial feedback, and plan for future meetings. It’s anticipated the group will have three to four sessions and then present a recommendation, though the task force will determine frequency and timeline at the first meeting.

Tuesday, June 12, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Jeffco Public Schools
Ed Center Board Room (5th floor)
1829 Denver West Drive, Bldg. 27, Golden, CO 80401
Light refreshments and beverages provided.

The goal of this task force is to engage those in the community that do not have students in the district. Please share with anyone you know in Jeffco that might be interested.

Questions? Contact Tracie Apel at 303-982-6831.

THE DEADLINE ARTISTS

The clock was ticking down to air as the staff behind Tiger TV was getting ready for another broadcast. Just like their professional counterparts; these students were faced with what seemed like an endless to-do list before going live. There were cameras to tweak, mics to check, and chroma key levels to manage. The flurry of activity was all being carried out under the watchful eye of video production instructor Adam Ronscavage, a mainstay at Lakewood High School for the past 17 years.

“It gets a crew working together to make sure that show goes off without a hitch. We’ve got a switcher, a teleprompter, sound, the anchor who writes, camera, and all those things kind of mesh together and it’s teamwork,” explained Ronscavage. “The people that put together the show, I let the students volunteer as they want to.”

“We all do a little bit of everything; sometimes we do music for the before, and after, sometimes we do teleprompter and switcher,” added Tiger TV staffer Madeline Melton.

“You have to be very strict with people otherwise they’ll start messing around, and that’s when mistakes start happening,” explained fellow Tiger TV staffer Anna DeLaet. “You have to have good communication with people, and that’s why we have someone behind the camera with the headset so we can talk to them and they can let the reporters know what’s happening and when they need to start talking and stuff.”

THE BRAILLIST

She is perhaps one of Jeffco’s best-kept secrets, and on any given morning, you’ll find her at the school district’s Building One on Quail Street in Lakewood, opening worlds of learning for Jeffco students who are blind or partially sighted. Gwen Yee is brilliant.

“I do anything they need to touch, that has to be raised in some way. So, I do maps, science pictures, and that sort of stuff. I also started doing pictures so the little kids at Fletcher-Miller can go to coloring classes and color – just a variety of things,” explained Yee.

For some of her work, Yee depends on a scanner, computer, and other equipment that allows her to translate and print pages into braille on specially produced paper that students can read by moving their fingertips from left to right across lines of textured dots. Sometimes tweaks are needed, but Yee is an expert at fixing any glitches by hand.

Like everything else, technology has changed Yee’s role, especially computer assistive technology for the blind and visually impaired. However, there are still key components of a student’s academic needs that can only be met with Yee’s experience, ability and attention to detail.

Good News in Jeffco

Shelton Elementary was named a 2018 Healthy School Champion. Read more.

Lakewood High School Theatre Company students headed to the University of Oklahoma’s highly-selective Helmerich School of Drama. Read more.

Jefferson Academy Secondary Principal selected as a 2018 University of Colorado Boulder’s Outstanding Colorado Educator. Read more.

Standley Lake High School students participated in the first-ever High School League at Comedy Sportz. Read more.

Pomona High School hosted the 17th Annual AWRSAY Recognition Ceremony. Read more.

Author Gary Hogg (of Charlie Bacon fame) conducted workshops with Green Gables Elementary students. Read more.

The Wheat Ridge High School STEM program received the New Horizon Award from the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation. Read more.

For more good news, visit the Good News Blog and see Jeffco in the News.

GOOD TO KNOW

2018 High School Graduations

Click here to view the schedule of high school graduations.

Budget, School Funding, & Teachers at the Capitol

Funding for K-12 Public Education has been in the news a lot lately. Superintendent Dr. Jason Glass has shared a lot of information over the last month on these issues:

• Jeffco Public Schools 2018-19 Budget
• Jeffco Public Schools Future Funding Options
• Superintendents Respond to Teacher Walkout
• Dr. Glass Informs Families that Students Will Not Have School on April 26
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About April 26
• Facebook Live “Talking Ed” about Jeffco Public Schools funding

If you’d like to engage with Dr. Glass about these issues, visit Facebook, Twitter @COJasonGlass, and his blog, advancejeffco.blog.

School Birthday Celebrations

Beginning the 2018-19 school year, student birthdays will be celebrated with non-food alternatives to support the district’s wellness policy, address food allergies, and reduce equity issues with being able to share food. This guideline was developed based on community input and feedback. Many schools already have similar policies in place and celebrate with other types of fun recognition. This guidance on birthdays is in addition to offering healthier celebrations and non-food rewards in the District Wellness Policy and Guidelines. Click here for more information and implementation ideas.

Check Out the Latest from JPS-TV

Emmy®-nominated JPS-TV is the official YouTube channel for Jeffco Public Schools. It features stories about Jeffco kids, teachers, and staff who are building bright futures! Be sure to check out the latest from JPS-TV here. 

Keep Up with Jeffco Athletics

To get the latest on Jeffco’s high school athletics, be sure to check out the CHSAANow.com/jeffco website, JPS-TV Sports, the Jeffco Athletics Facebook page, and scores and photos via @JeffcoAthletics on Twitter.

HAPPENING IN JEFFCO

Olde Town Arvada 
First Friday Art Walk
May 4

Featuring artwork from students at 12 Jeffco high schools at various locations in Olde Town Arvada. Artwork will be hung in several businesses and others will have specials on food and product for visitors. May 4, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

 2018 GT World's Fair
May 5

Saturday, May 5, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Wheat Ridge High School
9505 W. 32nd Ave.
Wheat Ridge, 80033
See the attached flyer for more details.

Youth Leadership Jefferson County
Applications Due May 7

Youth Leadership Jefferson County (YLJC) is an innovative program that develops the leadership potential of high school students in Jefferson County. Click here to learn more. Click here to view the application or apply online here. For more information email [email protected] or call 303-653-2768.

Jeffco Sheriff's Parent Technology Safety Night
May 10

Thursday, May 10, 6:30 p.m.
Falcon Bluffs Middle School
8449 S. Garrison St., Littleton, 80128
See the attached flyer for more details.

Warren Tech Summer Spa Days
May 29-June 11

Warren Tech's cosmetology programs are hosting their annual Summer Spa Days May 29-June 11. They are offering numerous spa packages and services including deep conditioning treatment, waxing, brow tint, hair-styling, polish change, and water manicure/pedicure. Save over 85% compared to major salons! Contact Warren Tech Cosmetology at 303-982-8544 or see the attached flyer for more information.

JA Business Week
June 10-15

JA (Junior Achievement) Business Week is a one-of-a-kind summer program that lets high school students experience the business world, develop leadership skills, and focus on their futures. Students currently in grades 9-12 learn about business from hundreds of professionals while working on "Shark Tank"-style projects. They also get a taste of college life by living on a university campus. Click here for more information and to register.

Field of Dreams Camp for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students
June 23-24

The 21st Annual – 2018 - Sertoma Field of Dreams Baseball Camp for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community is June 23-24 at All Star Park - Keli McGregor Field in Lakewood. See the attached flyers for details and registration info.

Warren Tech Summer Enrichment Programs
Applications Start August 16

Warren Tech is hosting their second annual Summer Enrichment Programs. Applications start August 16 and classes are filled on a first come first serve basis. Click here for more info.

IMPORTANT DATES

• May 24 - Last Day of School

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS

• Monday, May 7, 9:00 a.m., Special Meeting
• Thursday, June 7, 5:00 p.m., Special Meeting
• Thursday, June 7, 6:00 p.m., Regular Meeting
• Monday, June 11, 9:00 a.m., Special Meeting

Meetings are held at the Jeffco Ed Center Board Room, 1829 Denver West Drive #27, Golden. Meeting schedules and agendas are posted on BoardDocs.