The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education will meet on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 6:30 p.m. The action items on this agenda are:
• Census Resolution
• Contract Awards: Charter School Contracts
• Budget Appropriation and Transfers: Bond Projects
• General Fund Rubric Analysis Reductions

The agenda is posted at http://www.d11.org/boe/index.htm, click on Meetings; click on 2009-10 meetings; go down to March 10, 2010, and click on agenda and minutes.

On Saturday, March 6, Wasson High School's MESA Team competed in CSU-Pueblo's 16th Annual Design Competition and took home many awards, including First Place School! The winners are: 1st place in the Key Punch, Danny DeVinney, Mario Collazo, and Yang Liu; 1st place in the Say It, Do It, Mark Clagett and Derek Linan; 1st place in the Mouse Trap Catapult, Fadi Albchara, Yossf Albshara, Laud Williams; 1st place in the Mouse Trap Car, Mario Collazo, Yang Liu, Desiree Valdez; 4th place in the Popsicle Bridge, Travis Muller, Danny DeVinney, and Daniel Schemmel. For this competition, these students worked many hours after school and on Saturdays.

Media is invited to the 21st Space Wing child development center groundbreaking here at noon March 8.

"The 21st Space Wing takes pride in providing first-class facilities for our Airmen and their families," said Col. Stephen N. Whiting, 21st SW commander. "This new center will allow us to care for more children on base, as servicemembers go about doing the business of protecting our nation."

The 21st SW's child development center received accreditation by the National Academy for Early Childhood Program, stringent national standards for early childhood education programs, designed to help families identify high-quality programs for their young children.

The new CDC will be nearly 25,000 square feet, and double classroom space from six rooms to 12, providing child development services for up to 192 children. Presently the old CDC annex has a capacity for 96 children and a growing waiting list for childcare.

The $8.1 million project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The project should be complete by August 2011.

Lincoln Elementary, 2727 North Cascade Ave., will hold a Carnival and Silent Auction on Saturday, March 6, 2010, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Unlimited play wristbands are available for $15.00 each. These wristbands cover all carnival games, pizza and drink, cotton candy, cake walk, soda ring toss, inflatable jump, face painting, and the famous booth "Teacher's Treasure". The Silent Auction includes donations from the World Arena (Disney on Ice tickets), Arapahoe Basin (all day lift tickets), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (admission and sky lift passes), Royal Gorge Bridge (VIP passes), Downtown Aquarium in Denver (admission tickets), City Rock (rock climbing all day passes), home decor baskets, and much more!!! Please come and join Lincoln staff, family, and students in an exciting day of fun!

West Middle School student Kara Zehner has been named one of Colorado's top two youth volunteers in the 15th Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program recognizing young people for outstanding community service. On Friday, March 5, 2010, a representative from Prudential will come to West Middle School, 1920 W. Pikes Peak Ave., at 2:30 p.m. to present the "Prudential Spirit of Community Award" to Kara for her efforts in providing excellent community service. The Principal will also present to her a letter of recognition from President Obama.

As part of District 11's Service Learning program, Kara assists special-needs children at a therapeutic horse riding center and also leads a school campaign to send a specially trained detection dog to a country plagued by landmines as part of the Children Against Mines Program (CHAMPS). She spends several hours a week at the riding center helping kids with special needs.

Harrison Schools are gearing up for CSAP... CSAP Pep Rally will be held on Friday, March 5 at 8:30 am for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders of Stratton Meadows Elementary School in Harrison School District Two. The goal for this event is to create some excitement around CSAP and to let our students know that we believe in them. Staff will perform a funny skit about CSAP followed by hip hop dance routine. Stratton Meadows is located at 610 Brookshire Avenue, 80905.

Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) tests will be administered throughout Harrison School District for the next two weeks (3/8 - 3/19).

Brody Norton, student at District 11's Tesla Educational Opportunity Center, won first place in The Westside Optimist Club's essay contest, "The Internet: Today's Evolution or Tomorrow's Menace?" and will be presented his award on March 8, 2010, 12:50 p.m., at Tesla, 2560 International Circle. Brody won a $100 savings bond, a medal, and a free lunch at El Rodeo Restaurant. His essay has been forwarded to the Colorado-Wyoming District competition for the chance to earn $2,500 for first place, a second place scholarship of $1,500, or a third place scholarship of $1,000. Brody's teacher will also be honored and will receive a free 30-minute massage and the Gold Entertainment Coupon book for this area.

The Westside Optimist Club had 3 winners from District 11 for the essay contest: Brody Norton, Tesla, 1st place, $100 savings bond; Makayla Sexton, Holmes Middle School, 2nd place, $75 savings bond; Ellen Thomas, Holmes Middle School, 3rd place, $50 savings bond.

Colorado Springs, CO – Air Academy Federal Credit Union (AAFCU) is teaming up with Sand Creek High School for the second year in a row to teach seniors about money before they graduate. The Mad City Money simulation gives teens a taste of the real world – complete with a salary, spouse, kids, debt, and medical insurance payments. In Mad City, credit union staff and Sand Creek High School teachers and student leaders serve as merchants, tempting participants with housing, transportation, food, entertainment, and other purchases. The program is a way for teens to see how money decisions impact their life.

The Mad City Money simulation takes place Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at Sand Creek High School. AAFCU will follow up with mini-seminars on financial services, credit, auto loans, and identity theft. The financial conference concludes March 11 with a Price is Right game show.

AAFCU is a full-service credit union offering mortgages, auto loans, checking and savings options, financial planning, and more. AAFCU has served members nationwide since 1955 and grown to over $476 million in assets. Membership is open to families and employees of 10 area school districts, active and retired military, and more than 100 local businesses. There are 13 AAFCU branches in Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Elizabeth, Fountain, Highlands Ranch, Monument, Parker, and on the USAFA.

Colorado Springs, Colo. – On Friday, February 19, seventeen students from The Colorado Springs School (CSS) in grades 9 through 12 competed in the Annual National History Day Competition held at The Colorado College. These students spent countless hours researching and developing their submissions in the form of exhibits, documentaries, web pages, performances and documentaries. At least 20 sources were required for each project and a wide range of topics were represented under this year's theme of "Historical Innovations."

Four of these students placed and will move on to represent the Colorado Springs area at the State competition in Denver on May 1st. They aim to represent Colorado at the National Competition which is held at the University of Maryland.

Those students are: Caroline Friend, 10th grade - 1st Place Individual Documentary for her project "The Salk Polio Vaccine: Conquering the Crippler; Nick Gardiner, 9th grade - 3rd Place Individual Exhibit for his project "Plastics and Polymers: The Transcending Innovation; and Rachel Libert and Elise Lovaas, 9th grades - 2nd Place Group Performance for their project "Denim Through the Years". Congratulations to these students and all CSS participants for a job well done: Olivia Lee, Robyn Covnot, Tatum Shoptaugh, Kailyn Johnston, Tyler Robinson, Paige Adam, Illiana Derr-Evans, Kurstyn Morley, Ryan Dick, Declan Grabb, Taylor Moore, and Marina Carbo.

Special thanks go to Monica Reinhart, US History teacher, for sponsoring students in the National History Day Competition.

For more information about CSS and extracurricular educational opportunities, visit www.css.org or contact Nikki Warner, Admission Associate, at nwarner@css.org or (719) 434-3507.

About The Colorado Springs School (CSS)
CSS offers an experiential educational curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten – 12th graders. Through superior academics and mentoring, The Colorado Springs School prepares students to think independently and to meet the needs of a dynamic world with leadership, ingenuity, problem-solving skills, and personal integrity.

For more information about The Colorado Springs School, visit www.css.org or call
(719) 475-9747.


About National History Day Competitions (NHD)

Each year more than half a million students participate. They choose a historical topic related to the annual theme, and then conduct primary and secondary research. Research techniques involve looking through libraries, archives and museums, conducting oral history interviews, and visiting historic sites. After analyzing and interpreting sources, and drawing a conclusion about the significance of the topic, work is presented in one of five ways: as a paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary, or a web site.

In the spring, work is entered into local NHD contests where it will be judged by professional educators and historians. If the work is chosen as one of the best, participants advance on to their state's NHD contest. As a winner at the state NHD contest, they will be eligible to attend the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park in June. This is where the best National History Day projects from across the United States, American Samoa, Guam, International Schools and Department of Defense Schools in Europe all meet and compete.

For more information about National History Day Competitions, visit http://www.nhd.org/Contest.htm.

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Attached Media Files: 2010-02/700/CSS_National_History_Day_Regionals.pdf

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — A quarterly readiness exercise called Condor Crest will be conducted on Cheyenne Mountain AFS and Peterson AFB Feb. 22 to 26.
Condor Crest is a 21st Space Wing exercise that evaluates the installation's protection mission, partnership with local emergency response, and ability to respond to numerous emergency situations and crises.
During the exercise, unusual activity and noise from blank munitions or ground-burst simulators will occur for short periods of time. The public residing near Cheyenne Mountain AFS and Peterson AFB have no need to be alarmed as there are no safety risks to the public during the exercise.
Questions can be directed to the 721st Mission Support Group command section at 474- 2055 or the 21st Space Wing Public Affairs office at (719) 556-5185.

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Harrison School District Two and Superintendent Mike Miles will host a "Talk Salary with the Super" informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 22, at Mountain Vista Community School, 2550 Dorset Drive.
All teachers interested in learning more about the District's pay-for-performance plan are invited to attend.
Go to www.hsd2.org for more information.

Colorado Springs, Colo. – On February 5, 2010, Mayda del Valle, performed at The Colorado Springs School (CSS) for the Fourth Annual Southern Colorado Student Literary Conference for students in grades 6-12. Known for her spit-fire performances, her talent has graced President Obama at the White House, HBO series Def Poetry Jam, and now, The Colorado Springs School. Mayda encouraged students to "use their voice to follow their dreams".

Learning at an early age that being the smallest in the family required her to be the loudest; Mayda harvested her energy to compose and perform slam poetry. She expressed to students that no matter the obstacle, they must follow their dreams and their hearts.

"I'm grateful that Mayda was willing to share her struggles as well as her successes on the path to her goals. Her slam poetry was beautiful and inspiring -- much like her," Alex Hollenbeck, 12th grade, said.

Students from The Colorado Springs School, Boulder Country Day School, Globe Charter Academy, and James Irwin composed and read their own literary works in small groups throughout the day, reflecting upon the style of Mayda del Valle.

About The Colorado Springs School (CSS)
CSS offers an experiential educational curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten – 12th graders. Through superior academics and mentoring, The Colorado Springs School prepares students to think independently and to meet the needs of a dynamic world with leadership, ingenuity, problem-solving skills, and personal integrity.

For more information about The Colorado Springs School, visit www.css.org or call
(719) 475-9747.


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Attached Media Files: 2010-02/700/CSS_Mayda_del_Valle.pdf , 2010-02/700/Mayda.JPG

Cordelia Stone, principal at Colorado Springs School District 11's King Elementary School, received the Educator of the Year Award from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee of the Pikes Peak Region. The MLK Holiday Committee was established in 1985 and recognizes educators who have provided leadership and outstanding service promoting the study and teachings of Dr. King.

Due to weather and travel conditions on the East Coast, the Distinguished Speaker Series performance by actor/activist Danny Glover, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at Colorado State University-Pueblo, has been postponed. Announcement of the new date will be forthcoming.