FRIDAY FOLDER: A roundup of regional school news
D-38 schools part of pilot program
Lewis-Palmer and Palmer Ridge high schools in Lewis-Palmer School District 38 are among 35 middle and high schools chosen to participate in a statewide pilot program that will gauge the effectiveness and relevance of tools used to evaluate student preparation for college or the workforce.
The pilot program, called the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Assessment, is looking for ways to "establish a seamless pathway for students from preschool into college or workplace," according to the Colorado Department of Education. "Essential to that pathway is an understanding of what it means to be ready for education after high school or for the workforce and that students take the necessary courses and master the content." This spring, 42 other middle and high schools participated in the project.
The pilot program is a result of a new law called Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids, which calls for revision of the state assessment system in December 2010. At present the state uses the Colorado Student Assessment Program tests as its main measure.
• • •
Pikes Peak-area students at Geography Bee
Today, 15 students in fourth through eighth grade in the Pikes Peak region will compete in the Colorado Geography Bee at the University of Denver. They will be among hundreds of students from around the country participating in state meets for a chance to go on to national competition, where the top prize is a $25,000 scholarship.
The local contenders are: Cy Abbott, Colorado Springs Christian School; Riley Youngman, Woodland Park Middle School; Jake Kalua, home school; Scott Licht, Monument Academy; Riley Burkart, Lewis-Palmer Middle School; Andrew Lyons, Creekside Middle School; Jared Lee, Mountain Ridge Middle School; Seth Evans, Colorado Springs Christian School; Anthony Rice, Explorer Elementary School; Alden Savoca of Colorado Springs; Daniel Creamer, Sproul Junior High School; Benjamin Schneiderman, Timberview Middle School; Connor Holmes, Challenger Middle School; Michael Stinnett, Pikes Peak Christian School and Alex Crochet, Eagleview Middle School.
• • •
Springs math students Vegas-bound
Two Colorado Springs students qualified for a Colorado team that will represent the state at the 34th national mathematics competition May 29-30 in Las Vegas. The 15-member Division A team includes Shuli Song, an 11th grader at The Classical Academy, and Allan Gardner, an 10th grader at St. Mary's High School. The team will compete at the annual American Regions Math League (ARML).
The Colorado math program is hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder Math Circle, which provides a monthly forum for high school and exceptional middle school students to gather for mathematical discussions and exercises. The program prepares Colorado teams for the national competition. The Colorado Math Circle program is supported by the CU-Boulder Outreach Committee and the Department of Applied Mathematics.
For more information, contact Silva Chang at 1-303-494-1097 or mathcircle@coloradomath.org.
• • •
Student artwork on display at Citadel
Student art from the Pikes Peak region will be displayed for several weeks at Celebration Place in The Citadel mall as part of the 47th annual Young People's Art Exhibition.
The displays will be open 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The schedule is: elementary art, today through April 11, with an awards ceremony on April 7; high school art, April 17-25, with an awards ceremony on April 21; and middle school art, May 1-9, with an awards ceremony on May 5.
The Celebration Place is on the upper level in the Burlington Coat Factory wing.
• • •
UCCS team secures spot in competition
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is one of 10 universities selected to compete in the annual National Security Innovation Competition in Colorado Springs May 1.
The competition, to be held at MITRE Corp, is presented by the National Homeland Defense Foundation and sponsored by the Colorado Homeland Defense Alliance and the Colorado Springs Technology Incubator.
Entries promote national security-related innovations and novel technologies in aerospace, defense, security and first-responder activities. The top three team projects will receive cash scholarships.
• • •
Home-schooled student wins prestigious award
Civil Air Patrol Cadet Col. Kristopher Poskey, a home schooled high school student with High Country Home Educators, will receive the prestigious General Carl A. Spaatz Award Tuesday at Peterson AFB Club.
Poskey, 17 earned the award by completing the cadet program, which includes leadership education, character development, aerospace education and physical fitness. Those who win the award receive preference when applying for Air Force commissions or entry to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
While finishing high school, Poskey is taking classes at Pikes Peak Community College. He says he wants to attend a service academy, study the Arabic language, become an F-35 pilot, and eventually serve in the U.S. Congress.
• • •
Web site helps DARE raise money
If you're a supporter of DARE, the drug education program in many area schools, check out the new online store at www.deputydon.us (click on the store link on the left side of the page). Featured are hand-blown starfish pendants, along with a story of a starfish, a boy and the importance of giving a helping hand.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Department is dropping the DARE program in elementary schools because of budget cutbacks. Supporters are trying to raise money through special events and the store, according to Stacey Howell, president of the DARE Advisory Committee.
• • •
Peyton band, Little London Winds team up
The Peyton High School band will perform with the Little London Winds, ensemble in a free concert at 7 p.m. Monday at the Peyton High School gymnasium.
Gazette staff report
