FRIDAY FOLDER 8/27/10: A roundup of school news
Watch DOGS return with students
Students are back in class at Meridian Ranch Elementary School in Falcon School District 49, and Watch DOGS are returning to campus for a second year.
Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) are dads, granddads, uncles, step-dads and adult brothers. Watch DOGS volunteer to be a positive male role model for Meridian Ranch students.
The volunteers spend time in their relative’s classroom, lunchroom and playground. They also do other activities with students during the school day.
Those interested in volunteering can learn more at a pizza night, 6-7 p.m. Thursday at Meridian Ranch Elementary, 10480 Rainbow Bridge Dr. in Falcon.
To learn more about the program, contact the school at 494-2909 or www.d49.org/school/mres.
Digital safety course offered in D-20
Parents of elementary school students in Academy School District 20 are invited to a free “Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship” course 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 8 at the district Education and Administration Center, 1110 Chapel Hills Dr.
The two-hour session by the District 20 Information Technology Department will explore Internet safety issues and how parents can help their children be responsible digital citizens, protect themselves on the Internet and leave a positive digital footprint.
Breakout sessions include using computer settings and Facebook privacy settings to protect children. Child care will be provided.
To register for this course or to learn about other programs offered through the Academy District 20 Parent Academy, visit www.asd20.org/parentacademy.
Libraries earn 'power' statuses
Eleven Colorado Springs School District 11 libraries won recognition earlier this month from the Colorado State Library.
The Power Library project annually recognizes school libraries statewide that develop and promote quality programs and practices that help students meet standards. Power Libraries are selected through a competitive application process.
Ten school libraries in District 11 were rated “High Performance.” Such schools are noted as exemplary and agree to mentor other schools. Those schools are: Grant Elementary School; Keller Elementary School; Midland Elementary School; Penrose Elementary School; Rudy Elementary School; Scott Elementary School; Steele Elementary School; Doherty High School; Mitchell High School, and Wasson High School
Jenkins Middle School’s library was designated as “Developing.” That status means the Jenkins’ library has a professional library media specialist and is ready to shift away from an older teaching model toward using information skills with content standards to develop good readers and learners.
Designated Power Libraries commit to a yearlong partnership to increase collaborative teaching and learning, to share instructional ideas, and to create a plan for continued improvement and professional growth.
Manitou middle schoolers out of the mud
There’s no more traipsing around in the mud for Manitou Springs Middle School bus-riders. The sometimes muddy area behind the high school where they used to line up has been covered with tinted concrete. There will be tables for high school students to eat lunch.
And that’s not the only change for Mustang Plaza. There’s a small rock garden and a large rearing mustang statue.
The aluminum statue cost $3,000 — a fraction of a bronze piece. The Manitou Springs High School classes of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 will pay for the statue, along with a sandstone sign for the district that will be installed by Sept 13.
Nazarene Bible College military friendly
Nazarene Bible College is among 23 in the state named as military friendly by G.I. Jobs magazine.
Schools were evaluated on their certification programs, policies and efforts to recruit and retain military and veterans, and success in recruiting them.
The magazine honored the top 15 percent of more than 7,000 colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide.
Four other Springs schools made the list: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College, Regis University and Colorado Technical University.
For a complete list of schools, go to http://militaryfriendlyschools.com/list-2011.aspx.
