On Friday, May 17, 1-3 p.m., Bates Elementary School, 702 Cragmor Road, will be celebrating 56 years and hosting their closing ceremonies. There will be special performances from 1 to 2:15 p.m., and refreshments will be served from 2:15 to 3 p.m. The media is invited to attend this event.

Colorado Springs School District 11 will hold a press conference on Thursday, May 16, 2013, at 10 a.m. in the boardroom at the central administration building, 1115 N. El Paso Street. The purpose of the press conference will be to discuss the successful employee group compensation negotiations and the Board's approval of those compensation packages. Representatives from the District 11 administration, the Colorado Springs Education Association, the Colorado Springs Association of School Executives, and the Education Support Professionals will be in attendance and will be available to speak with members of the media.

Please see attached document.


Attached Media Files: HSD2 Survey Press Release

As summer and the anniversary of the Waldo Canyon Fire approach, Chipeta Elementary School, 2340 Ramsgate Terrace, and Aspen Pointe have been working together on a program to provide ways for students to feel empowered and be prepared in the face of natural disasters. On May 14, Chipeta will host an assembly at 1:45 p.m. for a presentation of the "I'm Not Scared When I'm Prepared" program. At the assembly, select students will receive a supply pack for aid in a crisis situation; the rest of the students will receive the pack in their classroom before leaving for the day. The media is invited to attend this event.

On Tuesday, May 14, at 2:30 p.m., kindergartners at Queen Palmer Elementary School, 1921 E. Yampa St., will receive new bikes and safety helmets during a surprise delivery. Panera Bread has partnered with Wish for Wheels, a non-profit organization serving the Denver Metro and Colorado Springs area schools, as they lead the community in donating bicycles to area kindergartners. Panera Bread has purchased new bikes and safety helmets to be given to kindergarten students at Queen Palmer. The media is invited to attend this event.

"Right now, one in five school-aged children lives in poverty right here in Colorado," said Brad Appel, Director of Wheelies, Wish For Wheels. "With Panera Bread's support, our goal is to reach those children, share hope and excitement, and help them dream bigger with a new set of wheels." Wish for Wheels, founded in 2004, works to make a difference in the lives of local children by providing new bikes and helmets to kindergarten students.

Lincoln Elementary School, 2727 N. Cascade, will host a Community Open House and Farewell Ceremony on Friday, May 10, 3 to 4 p.m., with the ceremony at 4 p.m. This event is open to all Lincoln Elementary School area residents, friends, any former Lincoln students, staff, and parents. Please plan to join us as we honor Lincoln Elementary School's contribution to the community. There will be light refreshments and exciting activities for the kids. The media is invited to attend.

As part of the District 11 Optimization of Utilization plan, many activities are taking place in order to move several schools and repurpose buildings. This is a BIG Job!

In an effort to be wise stewards of taxpayer money, the District is taking several strides to ensure materials and equipment that are no longer needed in our district are responsibly recycled or auctioned to the public. Therefore, the District is hosting an online auction, which is open to the public who may bid on auction items by visiting this URL:
http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/cssd11,co/list/current?orgid=1097. An onsite public viewing to see some of the auction items District 11 has available will be May 8, 3:30-5 p.m., at Wasson High School, 2115 Afton Way. The media and the public are invited to attend. In addition, the District is collaborating with Goodwill Industries to determine how to reuse or recycle old, outdated materials. The Optimization of Utilization project manager will be available for interviews.

Please see attached document.


Attached Media Files: 2013-05/1351/64060/HSD2_Free_meals_summer_2013.pdf

The Assistant Director of Partners in Housing, Donis Martin, will visit Martinez Elementary School, 6460 Vickers Dr., at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, to accept the donation of $527.00 from the fundraiser held in early April. While there, Ms. Martin will talk with GT/Enrichment students about the agency. The media is invited to attend this event.

The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education will have a board meeting on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, 6:30 p.m. The consent/action items on this agenda include:
* Policy IHD: Adult and Family Education
* Instructional Materials and Secondary Courses Approval
* Policy AE: Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment

The agenda is posted at http://www.d11.org/boe, click on meetings; click on May 8, and click on meeting agenda.

School District 11 is proud to announce that Mitchell High School's JROTC unit has received the Distinguished Unit Award for the 2012-13 academic year. This prestigious award recognizes the Mitchell JROTC cadets for their outstanding accomplishments during this academic year, the contributions of the instructors as mentors of the cadets, and the support of the school and community. Less than 19% of the 867 total units received this great honor. Mitchell's unit truly represents the best of the 867 Air Force Junior ROTC units worldwide.

On Wednesday, May 1, 11:42 a.m., students from Russell Middle School, 3825 E. Montebello Dr. W., will participate in the "Move Your Body" video. The Move Your Body video is a dance that was created by Beyoncé, commissioned by Michelle Obama, as a means to fight childhood obesity. It is considered a "flash" workout. Schools from around the country were asked to do this dance to be taped for Michelle Obama. Russell's dance taping is to be sent to the presenting organization to create the master DVD. The media is invited to attend this event.

Please see attached document.


Attached Media Files: 2013-04/1351/63815/HSD2_Banner_Show.pdf

The Peterson Air Force Base fire department will conduct fire training exercises today from 3-5 p.m. , Apr. 26, at the base fire training center located on the west side of the installation near Airport Road and Powers Boulevard. This routine training is conducted periodically to ensure base emergency responders are prepared to handle a wide variety of emergencies on the installation and the airport. As part of a cooperative agreement, Peterson firefighters are the primary response agency for handling all aircraft and civilian airport emergencies. Those traveling the Powers corridor and living adjacent to the airport should not be alarmed if they see smoke or fire from this area. The base fire training center has significant safety controls in place to ensure the training environment remains safe, yet provides the maximum educational environment for the firefighting teams.

School District 11's Office of Discipline and Attendance will hold an awards ceremony in the Tesla auditorium, 2560 International Circle, on Tuesday, April 30, 6-9 p.m., and the media is invited to attend this event. This ceremony is being held to recognize students who have improved or corrected their discipline problems (i.e.: students referred to the Student Discipline Services Office; students placed at Tesla from other schools, students suspended or expelled and returned to Tesla; students who have appeared in court for truancy; and have improved their attendance significantly since their order to attend school; students not referred to the Discipline Office, but who have made significant improvements in school with their behavior and/or attendance).

Vouchers to Poor Richard's will be given to each of the recipients who are receiving awards this year, as well as five bikes to give out in a drawing (two for elementary, two for middle school, and one for high school) from Kid's on Bikes. These awards are funded with the help of Outreachers, Inc., HEI, Kids on Bikes, and Poor Richard's Toy Store, Restaurant, and Book Store.

Magistrate Curtis from the Juvenile Division V, El Paso County Courts, School District 11's board members, executive directors, and Superintendent Gledich have all been invited to attend as honored guests.

The Peterson Air Force Base fire department will conduct fire training exercises today from 1-4 p.m. , Apr. 25, at the base fire training center located on the west side of the installation near Airport Road and Powers Boulevard. This routine training is conducted periodically to ensure base emergency responders are prepared to handle a wide variety of emergencies on the installation and the airport. As part of a cooperative agreement, Peterson firefighters are the primary response agency for handling all aircraft and civilian airport emergencies. Those traveling the Powers corridor and living adjacent to the airport should not be alarmed if they see smoke or fire from this area. The base fire training center has significant safety controls in place to ensure the training environment remains safe, yet provides the maximum educational environment for the firefighting teams.

On Friday, April 26, Hunt Elementary School will hold their field day. As in the past few years, this event will be held at Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind's football field. This year, Hunt invited the students from the Deaf and Blind School to join them, and 50 of the D&B School's students will participate with Hunt students. In addition, the 3-19 Field Artillery (Ghost Riders), Hunt's Adopt-A-School partners from Ft. Carson, will be active participants. The Ghost Riders have been involved with Hunt students as role models, tutors, etc., and have developed a strong following among Hunt students. The media is invited to attend this event.

On Friday, April 26, at 1:30 p.m., Taylor Elementary School, , 900 E. Van Buren St., will have their SuperHero Cape Parade, and the media is invited to attend. The students will parade to the administration building and return to Taylor to have lemonade, served by PTA. All Taylor students who have earned their Accelerated Reader points for the year will be participating in the parade.

The SuperHero Cape program encourages students to read. At the beginning of the school year, the number of Accelerated Reader points each student needs is determined, based on the student's individual needs. Once a student has earned 25% of their yearly goal, they are awarded a cape; after the cape has been awarded, the students earn strips as they progress to the number of pre-determined points.

The SuperHero Cape Parade will be a beautiful, exciting parade to view, with lots of colorful fabrics, smiling children, chanting, drum beats and all led by an old red truck with a huge Taylor Tiger on the top.

Palmer High School is holding a Unity Fest on Friday, April 26, 2013, in the courtyard from 11:26 a.m.-12:10 p.m., and the media is invited to attend.

Unity Fest is a courtyard festival celebrating and promoting unity, tolerance, and diversity within our school and our community. The fest is a co-sponsored by Palmer Live, GSTA, and Student Council.
There will be two stages, one for live musical performances via Palmer Live and the other for clubs to speak and perform their interpretations of unity. Palmer Principal Lara Disney has extended a special invitation to Wasson students so that they have an opportunity to experience Palmer at its best.

Please see attached document.


Attached Media Files: HSD2 BOE Changes

The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education will have a board meeting on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, 6:30 p.m. The consent/action items on this agenda include:
* Policy IHBA: Special Education Programs for Students with Disabilities
* Policy JLC: Student Health Services and Requirements
* Policy JLCCA: Students with HIV/AIDS
* Policy JLCD: Administering Medicines to Students
* District-wide Closure Due to Inclement Weather
* Contract Award: Lease of Whittier
* National Volunteer Week Resolution
* Executive Professionals Week Resolution
* National Teacher Appreciation Week Resolution
* Plan Amendments for Mill Levy Override Program Implementation

The agenda is posted at http://www.d11.org/boe, click on meetings; click on April 24, and click on meeting agenda.