2012 La Plata County Back to School Guide

2 • 2012 La Plata County Back to School Guide • Sunday, August 12, 2012

Back To School Guide 2012

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2012 La Plata County Back to School Guide • Sunday, August 12, 2012 • 3

PublisherRichard Ballantine

General ManagerKen Amundson

Vice President of AdvertisingPaul C. Hay

Director of Sales and Marketing Mark Drudge

Design ManagerBrady Sutherlin

Editor Karla Sluis

DesignerTracy Willbanks

Advertising Design/PrepressMitchell Carter

Jennifer Dickens Janelle FarnamHanah NolandMichelle Uhl

Tracy Willbanks

Advertising SalesDarryl Hunt

Karolann Latimer Shawna LongChuck Jillson

Ralph MaccaroneTeressa FennCora Younie

A publication of:


Inside:4 Durango superintendent’s welcome, plus 9-R academic calendar

5 Durango High School’s NEW class schedule

6 Durango 9-R primary schools at a glance

7 New 9-R superintendent values community’s support

8 Get the most out of your student’s open house, plus open house dates

9 Durango 9-R secondary schools at a glance

10 What’s new at Mountain Middle School & Animas High School

12 Fort Lewis College got even greener over the summer

14 Bayfield superintendent’s welcome, plus Bayfield academic calendar

16 Bayfield School District 10JTR at a glance

18 Ignacio superintendent’s welcome, plus Ignacio academic calendar

19 Ignacio included in Southwest Science Collaboration

20 Ignacio Middle School plans launch $50M bond projects

22 Help your child cope with back-to-school stress

23 Fight back against fall crud with health tips


Dear Members of the 9-R Community, It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome back all 9-R students and families to the 2012-13 school

year. As your new superintendent, I am excited to work with staff, parents, students and members of our community as we continue the quest for increased educational excellence. Our administrators, teachers and support staff have worked hard to ensure that we are ready to provide students a success-ful school year filled with pro-ductive learning. Each and every employee in our district has a part in ensuring that our students have a positive experience throughout their day – from our bus drivers, cooks, security guards, custodians,

teachers, office staff, classroom assistants, administrators and central office staff. As the old saying goes, “it takes a village,” and I’m mighty proud of our team and their contributions.

As a parent myself, I recognize the trust involved in sending your child(ren) to our schools. I take that very seriously, and will work closely with our staff as we ensure that we provide a safe and effective learning environment in all of our schools. Most importantly, we need your partnership. We know that our econ-omy and society in general has led to fast-paced lives often re-quiring prioritization. I invite you to make our partnership a high priority: Participate in parent conferences, attend school events, and volunteer in our schools when time permits. In the coming year, we will provide lots of opportunities for you to give honest and candid feedback on our work. It is through such feedback that we improve our practice and ensure the highest quality of service to our students. In addition, school board members and I will be holding quarterly forums around the district inviting par-ents and members of the community to learn about our efforts to improve our district and maximize learning. I hope you will attend when I’m in the neighborhood and provide your thoughts and feedback as well.

Education today is both exciting and challenging. In years past, we prepared kids with the basics for a pretty fixed set of occupations and experiences available as they left high school. Today, our teachers and administrators have the task of prepar-ing students for an ever-changing world and careers that we can

Soaring to new heights, one student at a time

Snowberger

continued on page 5

duRaNGo School diSTRicT 9-R


hardly imagine. Education has shifted from the learning of facts to learning how to learn, gain information from a variety of sources and apply learning in relevant ways. Such change often creates questions regarding what is going on in our class-rooms. When questions exist, I encourage you to contact your child’s teacher or school leader and get answers. It is through such dialogue that we can maximize learning for your child and prevent misunderstandings. Every day, our staff comes to work with the best intent and a strong desire to make a difference. When mis-takes are made, our system has opportunities to improve.

I recognize that parents have choice in education. We’re glad that we are able to provide your child a successful academic experience preparing them for the many options they will have following their PreK-12 education. We are also excited that we continue to provide opportunities in the arts, music, physical education, and ca-reer and technical programs embedded within our schools. It is our intent to ensure that we produce not only academically capable students, but students who have the opportunities to explore their areas of interest and develop lifelong passions. It is our intent in the coming year to focus our efforts at truly identifying the needs of each individual student and that we provide effective learning opportunities to help students achieve to their fullest.

I invite you to join us as we “Soar to new heights, one student at a time!”

Dan SnowbergerSuperintendent, Durango School District 9-R

continued from page 4

DHS will run an alternating-day, block schedule for the 2012-2013 school year. Classes begin at 8:35 a.m. each day and classes end at 3:55 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday remains an early re-lease day for students, and classes end at 2:30 p.m. Periods 1-4 will meet on Red Days and periods 5-8 will meet on White Days.

Durango High School Schedule

Monday-Thursday8:35 - 10:00 a.m. Period 1/5 85 minutes10:05 - 10:45 a.m. Advisory10:50 – 12:15 a.m. Period 2/6 85 minutes12:15 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch 45 minutes1:00 – 2:25 p.m. Period 3/7 85 minutes2:30 – 3:55 p.m. Period 4/8 85 minutes

Friday8:35 – 9:50 a.m. Period 1/5 75 minutes9:55 – 11:10 a.m. Period 2/6 75 minutes11:10 – 11:55 a.m. Lunch 45 minutes11:55 – 1:10 p.m. Period 3/7 75 minutes1:15 – 2:30 p.m. Period 4/8 75 minutes

9-R superintendent’s welcomeduRaNGo School diSTRicT 9-R


Durango School District 9-R is a high-performing school district located in western La Plata County in Southwest Colorado. Its seven elementary schools, two middle schools and a comprehensive high school serve approximately 4,700 students. Visit www. durangoschools.org for more information.

9-R at a glance

Q: How old does my child have to be to start school in School District 9-R? To enter kindergarten, a child must be 5 years old by Oct. 1, 2012. Durango School District 9-R also offers preschool at its elementary schools. Priority is given to children who are 4 years old by Oct. 1, 2012, and who live within the school attendance area.

Q: When is registration for preschool, kindergarten & elementary students?* Pre-School: Please contact the District Office at (970) 247-5411, ext. 1400, for more information.* Kindergarten and Elementary: Registration took place at each elementary school on Monday, August 6. Please contact the school to register your student.

Animas Valley Elementary School

Principal: Lisa Schuba School Day: 7:45a.m.–2:50 p.m. Early Release: 7:45 a.m.–1:20 p.m. School Phone: (970) 247-0124Students: 272Teachers: 24Support Staff: 12Address: 373 Hermosa Meadows RoadWebsite: animasvalley.durangoschools.org

ParkElementary School

Interim Principal: Kathleen LauSchool Day: 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Early Release: 8:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.School Phone: (970) 247-3718 Students: 450Teachers: 31Support Staff: N/AAddress: 510 East 6th AvenueWebsite: park.durangoschools.org

NeedhamElementary School

Principal: David Tanaka School Day: 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Early Release: 8:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.School Phone: (970) 247-4791 Students: 375Teachers: 30Support Staff: 16Address: 2425 West Third Avenue Website: needham.durangoschools.org

Florida MesaElementary School

Principal: Cindy Smart School Day: 7:50 a.m.–2:50 p.m. Early Release: 7:50 a.m.–1:20 p.m. School Phone: (970) 247-4250Students: 312Teachers: 19Support Staff: 15Address: 216 State Highway 172, Website: floridamesa.durangoschools.org

RiverviewElementary School

Principal: Doug GeyganSchool Day: 7:55 a.m.–2:55 p.m. Early Release: 7:55 a.m.–1:30 p.m. School Phone: (970) 247-3862 Students: 440Teachers: 34Support Staff: N/AAddress: 2900 Mesa Avenue Website: riverview.durangoschools.org

Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School

Principal: John Marchino School Day: 7:30a.m.–2:35 p.m. Early Release: 7:30 a.m.–1:05 p.m. School Phone: (970) 588-3331 Students: 170Teachers: 16Support Staff: 10Address: 11274 Colorado Hwy 140, HesperusWebsite: fortlewismesa.durangoschools.org

Sunnyside Elementary School

Principal: Vanessa FisherSchool Day: 7:50 a.m.–2:50 p.m. Early Release: 7:50 a.m.–1:20 p.m.School Phone: (970) 259-5249Students: 163Teachers: 14Support Staff: 9Address: 75 County Road 218Website: sunnyside.durangoschools.org

Photos by Hal Lott



Q: When is registration for preschool, kindergarten & elementary students?* Pre-School: Please contact the District Office at (970) 247-5411, ext. 1400, for more information.* Kindergarten and Elementary: Registration took place at each elementary school on Monday, August 6. Please contact the school to register your student.

New superintendent values community’s support of the ‘whole child’ We caught up with Daniel Snowberger, the new super-

intendent of the Durango 9-R School District, during a busy week of meetings and appointments in late July. He has been a school administrator for 20 years, and most recently worked as the assistant superintendent for Harri-son School District in Colorado Springs. To give the com-munity a sense of his voice and personality, he answered a few questions.

Q: Why did you choose Durango? A: I have five kids of my own, and three of them are K-12 school age. I was looking for a community and school district that I wanted my family to be a part of. We aren’t quite settled yet, but everyone is looking forward to the start of school. But living here will take a little adjust-ment. This morning I woke up to see a large black bear up the tree in our front yard (along Florida Road), which was right over my car. The Snowberger family learned we don’t put garbage outside anymore.

Q: What is unique about 9-R compared with other dis-tricts in the state?

A: This is a district that financially hasn’t had to cut back on music, art or P.E. 9-R educates children well in critical reading and writing, and it also exposes them to future poten-tial interests: It educates the whole child. The support of the community for the schools is unique, too. I appreciate that, because unfortunately the support is not as strong in many Colorado districts. From all indications, it seems we have parents who are very passionate about the quality of educa-tion for their kids. That’s a tremendous draw.

Q: What are your thoughts on Small Learning Communities at Durango High School?A: It’s a nice thing that Durango has done to provide diverse options to maximize children’s different learn-ing styles. High school teachers and administrators have taken on an awful lot of work. I’ve met with staff many times, and I’m impressed that they’re willing to go above and beyond because it’s the right thing for the kids. As they enter these learning communities, we will be flexible and make sure kids get into the environment that works for them. If they need to switch, they can do that. We’ll do New 9-R Superintendent Daniel Snowberger listens

intently during a meeting about school technology on July 12 at the 9-R Administration Building.

Photo by Jerry McBride/Herald

continued on page 9

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Get the most out of your child’s open houseThe open house is the kick-off of the new school

year. Children can locate their new classroom and navi-

gate school hallways to ease those first-day jitters, and parents can make the first connection with teachers and other parents. This event is especially important for the big transitions into kindergarten, sixth grade and high school freshmen.

Families are often so busy with end-of-summer ac-tivities or vacations, it can be tempting to skip this event. But educators say it’s important to show up, listen carefully and model enthusiasm for your child.

Amy Aweida, a Title I Reading/Math Teacher for K-5th grade at Mancos Elementary School, answered a few questions about getting the most out of an open house event.

Q: What’s the objective for teachers at an open house?A: We strive to build communication with parents and encourage them be active members of their child’s education. It’s a simple meet-and-greet event meant to encourage school/family partnerships. While some schools want teachers to go over daily schedules, rou-tines and rules, others use the event as a way to make parents feel comfortable and visit their child’s class-room. If the event is held a few weeks after school starts, it can also be used to celebrate students’ work and showcase their strengths.

Q: What do you think parents’ and kids’ objectives should be? A: Parents should try to gain a better understand-ing of what their child will be doing throughout the year. They can figure out ways to support their child. This can be as simple as knowing where their student’s classroom is located. They can learn the best way to communicate with the teacher, and write down good times to reach them by phone, e-mail or in person. Parents can learn what the teacher will be doing to notify them about upcoming events or volunteer opportunities, and ask general questions. Kids can show parents around the room, explain what they do in the classroom: where they sit, what things mean in the class, etc. They should show parents their recent work. If children are older, they can describe the standard or skill being taught, and how an assignment helped them learn it. Also, the child could tell their parents how they feel toward a class or subject area. They can express that they

struggle with math, for example, or that they enjoy reading more than science.

Q: What are some mistakes you see other teachers or parents making at this event, and how can they be corrected? A: One big mistake teachers make is spending too much time talking “at” the families. It should not be a lecture, but rather a casual conversation with parents. (However, some schools/districts may re-quire teachers to review specific protocol.) As a Title I teacher, one of my responsibilities is getting families to be more involved. While I feel com-fortable talking with parents, it can be extremely nerve-wracking for some teachers. Talking with parents is very different than teaching children. For parent/guardians, a big mistake is hoard-ing the teacher. Parent-teacher conferences are the appropriate time to discuss specific informa-tion about a child, while an open house is a time to “tour” the school and get a glance at what your child will be engaged in throughout the year. Par-ents should not think that an open house is a good time to sit down with the teacher and go over their child’s academic or social issues. Too often parents will come in thinking they can pull the teacher aside as if it were a pri-vate meeting time. While some parents want to get details about their child, the teacher should tell them that they can talk on the phone or meet at a different time to review their child’s progress.

Q: What can parents do to help their child adjust to a new year? A: Get involved. Ask

your child about school. Listen to them and give feedback to the teacher when necessary. If needed and appropriate (meaning this may not be appropri-ate for a high school student), visit the classroom during school for a quick visit. All teachers should encourage family participation. Try to volunteer when needed in the classroom. And, of course, al-ways ask questions if you don’t understand some-thing going on the child’s classroom. Overall, this should be a relaxed, comfortable event for both the parents and teachers. Each teacher has a different style and way of contributing to an open house event. Parents should expect each year’s open house to be a bit different because the student has a different teacher, which means a different person with their own teaching style.

By Karla SluisDurango Herald Magazine Editor

Durango School District 9-RAnimas Valley Elementary Thursday, August 16, at 6:00 p.m.Florida Mesa Elementary Wednesday, September 5, at 5:30 p.m.Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary Tuesday, August 28, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.Needham Elementary TBDPark Elementary Wednesday, Sept. 5, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.Riverview Elementary Thursday, Sept. 6, from 6:00-7:00 p.m.Sunnyside Elementary Tuesday, August 28, from 4:15-6:20 p.m.Escalante Middle School Wednesday, August 29, at 5:30 p.m.Miller Middle School Wednesday, August 29, from 6:00-7:30 p.m.Big Picture High School Wednesday, August 29, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.Durango High School Thursday, August 30, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Open House Schedule

Bayfield School District 10 JTRBayfield Elementary Monday, August 20, 4:00-6:30 p.m.Bayfield Primary School Monday, August 20, at 4:00-6:30 p.m.Bayfield Middle School Thursday, September 6, from 4:00-8:00 p.m.Bayfield High School Thursday, August 30, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Ignacio School District 11 JTPlease visit ignacioschools.org for updated open house dates.



an even better job next year, because we’ll have a year under our belts; and older students can share information with incoming freshmen.

Q: What are District 9-R’s top three challenges of the new school year?

A: I think one of our greatest challenges is that we are in a different age in public education than when we went to school. We need to engage parents in the idea of what a 21st education has to be. For many years, we knew what the career paths might be, but now we’re predicting what skill sets might be needed for jobs in the future. We are having to shift our system and strategies. Students need a lot of doors open when they graduate. It’s important that they have a skill that they can use, and that’s again why the district excels by offering such courses as personal finance, technical skills, welding and culinary arts.

A second challenge would be operating in a transparent manner. We’ve had the public trust, and we can’t squander it. We have to maintain it. Our parents are stakeholders, and they should know how we use their resources and how we are being efficient and effective in the use of those resources.

Finally, we’re in a different age where not every student is choosing to go to pub-lic schools. Parents make choices to place kids charter or private schools, and we need to celebrate that and not always fear the competition. We want to reach out to these schools and work on sharing resources.

It’s critical that we engage families early. We want to hear their voices. It’s going to be an exciting year for me.

continued from page 7

Superintendent: top three challenges

Photos by Hal Lott

9-R’s first day of school for the 2012-13 school year is

Tuesday, August 21.

Escalante Middle School

Principal: Tim ArnoldRegistration Dates: * 6th grade: Monday, Aug. 13, 2-5 p.m. * 7th grade: Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2-5 p.m. * 8th grade: Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2-5 p.m.School Day: 8:05 a.m.–3:35 p.m. Early Release: 8:05 a.m.–2:20 p.m.School Phone: (970) 247-9490Students: 501 Teachers: 36 Support: 13 Address: 141 Baker LaneWebsite: escalante.durangoschools.org

Durango High SchoolPrincipal: LeAnne GarciaRegistration: Returning students will occur during the first week of school through the stu-dent’s advisory period.School Day: 8:35 a.m.–3:55 p.m. Early Release: 8:35 a.m.–2:30 p.m.School Phone: (970) 259-1630 Students: 1,322 Teachers: 92 Support: 32 Address: 2390 Main AvenueWebsite: dhs.durangoschools.org

Big Picture High School

Administrator of Secondary Options: Alain Henry School Day: 8:20 a.m.–3:45 p.m. Early Release: 8:20 a.m.–2:25 p.m.Application information: See websiteSchool Phone: (970) 259-0203 ext. 2701Address: 215 East 12th StreetWebsite: bigpicture.durangoschools.org

Miller Middle School

Principal: Tam SmithRegistration Dates: * 6th grade: Tuesday, Aug. 14, 3-6 p.m. * 7th grade: Wednesday, Aug. 15, 3-6 p.m. * 8th grade: Thursday, Aug. 16, 3-6 p.m.School Day: 8:10 a.m.–3:35 p.m. Early Release: 8:10 a.m.–2:20 p.m.School Phone: (970) 247-1418Students: 500 Teachers: 33 Address: 2608 Junction Creek RoadWebsite: miller.durangoschools.org



Mountain Middle School to offer visual arts program

Mountain Middle School, Durango’s free, public, state-chartered middle school, kicks off its second academic year on Aug. 21 with a full enrollment of 168 students.

The first non-district charter school to be approved by unanimous vote by the Colorado Charter School In-stitute, Mountain Middle School integrates technology and project-based learning into a rigorous liberal arts curriculum that prepares students to be self-motivated, innovative thinkers.

New for 2012-2013, MMS will introduce a visual arts program that will teach students new ways to pres-ent their project learning to the community.

“The Mountain Middle School visual arts curricu-lum fosters creative, out-of-the-box thinking through hands-on learning,” said Jackie Oros, Head of Moun-tain Middle School. “Our program will teach skills that students will need to effectively communicate their ideas, skills that they’ll use throughout their academic and professional careers.”

The new course will be taught by instructor Brenda

Macon, who last year taught an elective arts course and after-school programs that garnered rave reviews from students.

“The student response to her afterschool programs was overwhelmingly positive,” Oros said. “I am certain that Brenda will add an element of excellence to our students and staff that will resonate in beautiful project work.”

While visual arts will be presented as an independent course, elements of the curriculum also will be incor-porated into students’ coursework in humanities, math and science, reading, writing and communicating, digi-tal media arts and world language.

Also new this year, Mountain Middle School was awarded a grant from the Gates Foundation to be used for facilities improvements. Every classroom now has all-new acoustic flooring designed to control noise lev-els. Returning students also will notice expanded orga-nizational structures that include new cubbies, hooks and shelving.

The grant also was used to purchase a sound- and fire-proof curtain to create a separate space for the school’s technology lab, which houses a fleet of 28

iMac computers for student use. New students, parents and anyone who would like to

learn more about Mountain Middle School are invited to attend a welcome-back picnic hosted by the Parent Teacher Student Organization at 4 p.m. on Aug. 23 at Rotary Park.

For additional information about Mountain Middle School, including a calendar of events and enrollment policies and procedures, please visit www.mountain-middleschool.org.

By Beth HollandMountain Middle School Board Member

Animas High School adds classes, clubs and roomsAnimas High School, Durango’s innovative and

much-heralded public charter high school of choice, is preparing for another year of firsts.

With the addition of the incom-ing Class of 2016, AHS will mark its first year at full enrollment. Joining the school’s 266 students are 13 new staff members, who will add to the Animas High’s rigorous academic programs and exemplary culture of excellence.

AHS is also adding new class-es to its award-winning program this year. Spanish 4, Economics

and Government, Earth Science and Senior Seminar join the line-up of core classes with electives like Global Issues Now, Journalism, Ad-vanced Physics and the Artist’s Portfolio, rounding out additions to the school’s program of studies.

New community partnerships and career explora-

tion opportunities abound through the school’s LINK internship program, and a unique line-up of Power Lunch speakers are sure to inspire students this year. New projects, advisory curriculum, technology, class-room resources and a new orientation format are sure to excite students and their families.

This summer’s campus remodel added a new lunchroom, new Foreign Language, Science, Hu-manities and Math classrooms, new offices for the school’s Registrar, College Counseling Dept. and the Exceptional Students Dept., and also included an overhaul of the school’s “Heershop,” home base for AHS’s Physics programs, championship Robot-ics team and the school’s first Technology Special-ist.

This will be the first full year of publication of the Quill, AHS’s student newspaper, which joins other popular clubs and student-interest groups like Year-book, Poetry, Gardening, African Dance, Philosophy and Digital Arts. Geocaching, Trail Running and Pad-dle Boarding join Swimming, Backcountry Skiing, Rock Climbing and Mountain Biking as afterschool

clubs and teams at AHS this year. Animas High is the first high school in Durango

honored as an Irwin School of Excellence, an award bestowed to the top 8 percent of public schools in Col-orado. The success and impact of AHS’s 21st-century approach to secondary education continues to benefit the school’s students.

After three years of Exhibitions, Presentations of Learning and Project-Based Learning, AHS’s Class of 2013 works towards 100 percent college admission this fall, and we will celebrate Animas High’s first graduating class this spring.

With so many firsts, it’s no wonder that enrollment at Animas High School is stronger than ever. After its first admissions lottery this past spring, the school maintains a robust waiting list for admission into the ninth grade. However, the school continues to accept applications for enrollment into a limited number of openings in the tenth and ninth grades.

For more information about Animas High School’s exemplary programs of excellence, please visit: www.animashighschool.com.

By Michael AckermanAnimas High School Head of School

Ackerman

Photo courtesy of Beth Holland

SchoolS of choice


Over the summer, Fort Lewis College got even greenerGoing green has been a way of life at Fort Lewis

College for a long time – it just comes naturally when you live in a place as beautiful and inspiring as south-western Colorado. And this summer, the FLC cam-pus has gotten even greener, with several energy- and money-saving projects under way.

Fort Lewis College has been actively improving its sustainability since becoming a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents Cli-mate Commitment, in 2007. Since then, the colleges’ Sustainability Action Plan has led to the construction of “green” buildings, introducing local foods into din-ing facilities, expanding on-campus recycling, priori-tizing recycled products in purchasing, upgrading ir-rigation efficiency, the installation of a new composter for on-campus dining, and more.

And FLC’s efforts are getting noticed. That progress toward sustainability made Fort Lewis College one of “America’s Coolest Schools,” according to Sierra magazine, the official publication of the Sierra Club. In 2011, The Princeton Review, which already listed

FLC as one of America’s “Best in the West” colleges, added FLC to its roster of outstanding Green Colleges, recognizing the college as a leader in green building, energy conservation, recycling, local food and envi-ronmental academic programs.

Since the Sustainability Action Plan, Animas Hall, the campus’ newest residence hall, has earned the prestigious U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold rating for its state-of-the-art environmental de-sign. Also, both the new Berndt Hall Biology Wing, which opened Spring 2010, and the new Student Union, which debuted in 2011, have earned LEED Gold ratings.

In March of this year, the Rocket Composter was installed in the college’s new Student Union. The composter will eliminate 76,000 pounds of discarded food each academic year, waste that would otherwise occupy a landfill. The compost will also be used to enrich the on-campus garden managed by the Envi-ronmental Center.

And the greening of the FLC campus continues.

Last summer and fall, an energy audit of campus fa-cilities identified potential energy improvement mea-sures. This summer, FLC Facilities staff are replacing lighting, lighting controls, boilers, and plumbing fix-tures across campus.

Eventually almost every structure on campus will be impacted - big steps toward meeting the goals in the Sustainability Action Plan for significantly reducing greenhouse gases and lowering utility consumption by 30 percent. And helping to keep southwestern Colo-rado - and the world - inspiring and beautiful.

Information courtesy of Fort Lewis College. To find out more about FLC, visit www.fortlewis.edu.

Fall SemesterClasses Begin Monday, August 27, 2012Last Day of Classes Friday, December 7, 2012

Winter SemesterClasses Begin Monday, January 7, 2013Last Day of Classes Friday, April 19, 2013

Fort Lewis College Start Dates

SchoolS of choice


Bayfield School diSTRicT 10JTR

Bayfield Parents and Students, I hope that you have taken time to enjoy and relax this summer. It seems like we have become so busy with our

day-to-day lives that sometimes we forget to pause and just breathe. It is my hope that you took some time to step back, take a breath, and appreciate what an amazing place we live in. The 2011-2012 school year was an exciting and productive first year for me. I know that with such a talented staff, outstand-ing students and dedicated parents, the 2012-2013 school year will once again be full of high achievement and incred-ible accomplishments.

Throughout this past year, the Bay-field School District has been involved

in creating a comprehensive strategic plan. On May 24, 2012, the Bayfield School Board took official action to adopt this new plan. The plan was developed through the dedication of over 50 community members who devoted countless hours of work in its development. This committee was a representation of a broad spectrum of the Bayfield community, with representation from students, parents, school district staff, business leaders, retirees and other community members.

The strategic plan is centered around four priority areas: Meeting Individual Student Success and Needs, Exemplary Staff, Increase Student Access to Career and Technical Education Programming, and Co-Curricular/Extra-Curricular Activities Support. In each priority area, a guiding vision statement, goals and action steps were created to clarify our direction as a school district.

The district is currently implementing many goals and action steps as a result of this important work. This includes provid-ing specific training on student intervention models, adjusting the school calendar to provide meeting time for teachers to bet-ter analyze student achievement data that will inform stronger instructional practices, and the addition of a postsecondary and workforce readiness counselor to better guide students towards their career paths.

It will take a strong partnership between our staff, students, parents and the community to act on the many goals and action steps within the plan. I once again invite each of you to be part of this partnership and to get involved. Each building, as well as the district, has accountability teams and other committees that need your participation. Contact your individual schools or the district office to ask how you can become involved.

Troy D. ZabelSuperintendent, Bayfield School District

Exciting, productive year ahead

Zabel


Bayfield School diSTRicT 10JTR

Photos by Hal Lott

District 10JTR schools will begin the 2012-13 school year Tuesday, Aug. 21.

Bayfield Elementary School

Principal: Diane GardnerOpen House: Monday, Aug. 20, 4-6:30 p.m.First Day of School: Tuesday, Aug. 21School Phone: (970) 884-9571Ratio: Each grade level averages four to five teachers with approximately 24 students per class.Address: 551 E. Mustang LaneWebsite: www.bayfield.k12.co.us/schools/bes

Bayfield Primary School

Lead Teacher: Susan JohnsonOpen House: Monday, Aug. 20, 4-6:30 p.m.First Day of School: * Kindergartners: Staggered on Aug. 22 & 23 * First-graders: Aug. 21School Phone: (970) 884-0881Ratio: Kindergarten classes average 17-18 students per class; first-grade classes aver-age 21-22 students per classAddress: 658 S. East StreetWebsite: www.bayfield.k12.co.us/schools/beps

Bayfield Middle School

Principal: Mike ListerFirst Day of School: Tuesday, Aug. 21Open House: Thursday, Sept. 6, 4-8 p.m. School Phone: (970) 884-9592Address: 615 East OakWebsite: www.bayfield.k12.co.us/schools/bms

BayfieldHigh School

Principal: Scott StoryFirst Day of School: Tuesday, Aug. 21Open House: Thursday, Aug. 30, 5-7 p.m. School Phone: (970) 884-9521Address: 800 County Road 501Website: www.bayfield.k12.co.us/schools/bhs


iGNacio School diSTRicT 11JT

Welcome to the 2012-13 school year. Ignacio School District will continue to strive to improve our performance academically during the coming

school year. We will be imple-menting the new language arts curriculum and making adjust-ments to the math curriculum. Our goal is to finish aligning all subject areas to the state stan-dards by the end of the year under the direction of our cur-riculum consultant. Staff has worked hard developing scor-ing rubrics and will finish that work during our early-release Wednesdays. We will expand our Accelerated Reading pro-gram and incorporate Acceler-ated Math into the curriculum. Ignacio will become part of the

Southwest Science Collaboration program with Durango Dis-covery Museum and Durango Nature Studies to help K-6 stu-dents to increase their interest levels in science, technology, engineering and math. This program is supported with funding from BP.

The Ignacio School District embarked on a major building project after passing the bond last November. The architects have drawn plans for the new Ignacio Middle School and the addition and renovation of the existing Intermediate School into Ignacio Elementary School. We hope to break ground in the next month and occupy the new middle school by Septem-ber 2013 and the elementary school in September 2014. The plans for the renovation of Ignacio High School will begin in the future. I invite any community member that would like to be part of that process to contact my office.

As a district we will continue developing community sup-port by sponsoring events during the year. Please attend those events to learn more about the efforts that we are making to improve the Ignacio School District.

I am looking forward to an exciting year, and welcome into our community our new, young, enthusiastic and energetic staff members.

Rocco Fuschetto, Ed. D.Ignacio Superintendent of Schools

Ignacio aligns, accelerates and breaks new ground

Fuschetto



Photos by Hal Lott

The first day of school in the ignacio district is Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012

Ignacio Elementary School

Principal: Karl HerrFirst Day of School: Tuesday, Sept. 4School Phone: (970) 563-0675Address: 115 Ute StreetWebsite: ignacioschools.org/IES

Ignacio Intermediate SchoolPrincipal: Kathy PokorneyFirst Day of School: Tuesday, Sept. 4School Phone: (970) 563-0650Address: 85 County Road 320Website: ignacioschools.org/IIS

Ignacio High School

Principal: Melanie TaylorFirst Day of School: Tuesday, Sept. 4School Phone: (970) 563-0515Address: 315 Becker StreetWebsite: ignacioschools.org/IHS

Ignacio Junior High School

Principal: Chris DeKayFirst Day of School: Tuesday, Sept. 4School Phone: (970) 563-0600Address: 315 Becker StreetWebsite: ignacioschools.org/IJHS

Ignacio schools are included in Southwest Science Collaboration

This year, Ignacio schoolchildren will get to put on lab coats, fill beakers, catch lizards and wear snowshoes.

It’s all part of the Southwest Science Collaboration, a program funded by BP that provides all Ignacio K-6 and all Durango K-5 students with field trips to Durango Discovery Museum and Durango Nature Studies. The goal of the program, which was first offered to 9-R students last year, is to stimu-late interest in environmental literacy and science, technology, engineering and math, and to bring these areas of study to life for all students.

“We want to provide every kid with the same set of experiences to make it very fair and equitable,” said Sarah Margoles, DDM education director. She said the program provides edu-cators support with their curriculum through DDM labs and DNS field ex-cursions that are based on Colorado state science standards. Teachers appreciate lo-cal enrichment opportunities that supple-ment their classroom science lessons, Margoles said, and students and teachers have responded enthusiastically.

“At the Nature Center, they get to ac-tually catch lizards, snakes and horny toads,” said Sally Shuffield, DNS execu-tive director. “Many times, kids will say that this was the ‘best day of their lives!’ They forget they are learning and start to love the world around them. That, to me, is what makes them continue in their quest for knowledge.”

During DDM field trips, children put on lab coats and goggles and participate in a 45-minute lab. They also tour the museum and learn about different forms of energy and the history of the Powerhouse. Later, they are allowed time to explore the mu-seum’s interactive exhibits.

“As one of the earliest and last remain-ing AC power plants in the world, the Powerhouse is a great place to teach about energy,” said Margoles. “The kids some-times go home and educate their parents.

We want to make sure students get in-spired and take that excitement back to the classroom.”

DDM focuses on science and tech-nology, and DNS excursions follow life science standards required for each grade. A DNS instructor goes into the classroom and teaches an hour-long les-son introducing life science concepts through inquiry learning and activi-ties. The following week, students visit the Nature Center or Haviland Lake on snowshoes for exploring and discovery of the natural world.

Shuffield said the collaboration project has been a long time in the works.

“DNS has been passionate about supplementary science education in the outdoors for almost 18 years,” she said. “But until last year, we had to do a lot of marketing, and had motivated teachers that used our programs and shared our ideas.” In the past, DNS had to rely on PTO fundraisers and asking parents for field trip money. Funding from BP and support from the school districts means “every child will receive an equal edu-cation when it comes to supplementary science,” said Shuffield.


Durango Nature Studies offers Nature Club, an afterschool-enrichment program at all Durango public schools. The four-week sessions have a variety of life science topics, with lots of time playing outside. For more information, visit www.durango-naturestudies.org/natureclub or call (970) 382-9244.

Durango Discovery Museum offers the Sudden Science program, which is fun afterschool science, technology, engi-neering and math (STEM) programming for elementary and middle school stu-dents.

For more information, visit www.durango-discovery.org/programs/suddenscience.

Afterschool programs



Ignacio Middle School plans launch $50M bond projects

The future looks bright for Ignacio schools. A state-of-the-art new building filled with energy-efficient windows and passive solar panes is giving educators and students a sunny outlook.

A $50 million school-bond measure passed by one vote in Ignacio in November. The 20-year bond will pay for construction of a new middle school and renovations to Ignacio’s intermediate, junior high and high schools. The district will vacate the elementary school because of air-quality concerns and will tackle asbestos issues in all of the school buildings. At the end of the three-to four-year process, the students will consolidate into three schools instead of four. The elementary school will be grades K-5, the middle school will be 6-8, and the high school will be 9-12.

“I’m glad we did it,” Ignacio Superinten-

dent Rocco Fuschetto said in a Durango Herald story in Nov. 15. “It will be great for the whole community of Ignacio.”

Renovations also will include replac-ing air flow, plumbing and roofing sys-tems with more energy-efficient models and installing new fire-detection and alarm systems. Single-pane windows will be replaced by energy-efficient ver-sions, and the sustainable facility will utilize passive solar heating and cooling strategies.

Fuschetto, who is heading into his third year as the Ignacio superintendent, said July 30 that the middle school de-sign is close to being done.

“The state is still approving the final drawings (by RTA architects of Colo-rado Springs),” he said. “It will be put out to bids, and we’re hoping to have a


This artist’s rendering by RTA architects of Colorado Springs shows a perspective on the Ignacio Middle School’s main entry.

Image courtesy of Scott Schuster/RTA


This artist’s rendering by shows the Ignacio Middle School’s cafeteria and stage area.


iGNacio School diSTRicT 11JTgroundbreaking in early December.”

The district plans to occupy the new middle school by September 2013. After renovations to the elementary school, kids will occupy the new space in September 2014. High school reno-vation plans are the final phase.

Fuschetto said kids and parents helped shape the early design process, and he encourages community mem-bers to be part of the Design Advisory Team.

“They can stop by my office and just talk to me,” said Fuschetto. “It’s their money, you know?”

The new school will be a state of the art, high performing building that

draws inspiration from the region’s materials and forms.

“The school is going to be differ-ent,” said Fuschetto. “It’s very open-concept, with a lot of areas and class-rooms designed for flexible use of space,” he said. Teachers will each have an office, but they won’t be as-signed to classrooms.

The Ignacio student population is very stable, according to Fuschetto, who notes that a “big number” of children in Ignacio commute to attend Durango schools.

“We hope with the new schools that we can bring some of those students back to our district.”


Ignacio Elementary School students view the model of their future middle school.

New student registration begins Wednesday, Aug. 10, and will run until the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 29, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Only students new to the Ignacio School District need to register. Current immunizations and birth certificates are needed to register your child. All others have already been pre-registered.

Registration for Ignacio Schools


SuRvival Guide/TipSHelp your child cope with back-to-school stress

As school approaches, both students and their par-ents have familiar thoughts and anticipation about go-ing back to the classroom. Beyond academic perfor-mance, as parents we often grapple with the concerns of what is “normal social/emotional development,” and at what point we should be concerned or inter-vene.

As back to school time approaches, students may express their anxiety, excitement and worries about school in several ways:

• Increased levels of overactive (hyper) behaviors due to not being able to manage their intense feelings

• Increased irritability and moodiness

• Worries about being pre-pared for school, including school supplies and school clothes

• Worries about making new friends, or not being in the same class as current friends

• Increased tearfulness• Expressed desire of not

wanting to go to school These behaviors may be

misunderstood by parents and identified as “getting into trouble” right before school starts. Parents can assist their children by:

• Spending focused time listening to their concerns• Acknowledging their worries by not saying “get

over it” or “everyone gets nervous”• Encourage their child to list their worries (more

than three). It may take time for them to identify their biggest concerns.

• Encourage them to list things they are excited about school. Listing positives can help shift their thoughts into a more hopeful perspective.

• Role play by discussing possible scenarios at school and encourage your child to practice positive ways to handle the situation. Visiting the classroom or locker prior to the first day of school can assist them in visualizing what to expect.

Resist the parental desire to “fix everything” in or-der to prevent your child from experiencing distress. As involved parents, we work to prevent our children from being hurt both physically and emotionally. As

our children learn positive ways to cope with stress in their lives and know they are supported along the way, it will teach them how to tolerate and manage in our imperfect world.

• Take time to listen to your child’s ideas and thoughts about school, friends, activities, etc. This can be done at the dinner table (without the television on), in the car driving across town or before bed.

• Let their tears flow, if needed. Be supportive if your children need to cry, without shutting them down: “Shhhhh, don’t cry, it’s not a big deal. Pull it together.” Our children will get an opportunity to relieve anxiety, fear, and stress as we quietly listen. Often they can come up with ways to deal with their problem, or be open to your kind and supportive in-put, once they have cried it out.

Red FlagsSometimes behaviors don’t just get better on their

own. The following are red flags that may indicate that it is necessary to seek support from profession-als:

• Changes in mood, including increased isolation from family and friends

• Changes in eating and sleeping patterns• Decreased interest in activities, recreation and

hobbies• Refusal to attend school• Decreased academic performance• Increased verbal or physical aggression• Change in peer group, including peers that engage

in negative and impulsive behaviors• Lack of developmental, age-appropriate behav-

iors, including hanging out with kids much older or younger and being interested in activities that are too old or young for them, such as a 9-year-old girl hang-ing out with older girls who are sexually active, or a 12-year-old boy only being interested in playing with Legos with 6-year-olds.

• Lying despite clear evidence of the contraryPositive Interventions There are ways to help provide our children sup-

port, structure and routine that will provide the tools in order to teach them positive relationship skills.

• Strong parent /child bond. As explored earlier, it’s important to spend time with your children in order for them to see you as a resource for encouragement,

support and safety.• Strong parental monitoring. Know where your

child is, what they are doing, and with whom they are spending time. Know your child’s friends and their friends’ parents.

• Clear expectations of behavior, including consis-tent rules about household responsibilities (chores), such as when to check in, curfew, etc.

• Clear and consistent consequences about misbe-havior (same rules from all parental figures and same results). “You lose your phone privileges if you re-fuse to do your chores…every time).

• Strong link with school. Attend school confer-ences and meetings with teachers, review school as-signments. Post a calendar of exams, projects, field trips and events.

• Encourage pro-social activities, including in-volvement with family and friends in sports, clubs, art, drama, Durango Discovery Museum, etc.

Dori Walden, MA is a Registered Psychotherapist in private practice. She works with children, adolescents and adults, both individually and in a group setting. She uses her enthusiasm and en-couragement to teach posi-tive coping skills in order to handle life’s stressors. Call (970) 903-7767 or e-mail [email protected].

Walden

By Dori WaldenSpecial to the Herald


SuRvival Guide/TipSFight back against fall crud

The season of sniffling and sneezing is right around the corner. The seasonal shift, combined with hundreds of kids packed to-gether in classrooms, means it’s time to get out the tissues and resupply the medicine cabinet.

Sometimes kids need medical treatment at school, or they need easy access to pre-ventative health care. School-based health centers are a great resource for students during school hours. The on-site centers at Durango High School and Florida Mesa El-ementary School offer a practical and inex-pensive approach for providing preventive and integrated health care services, such as: sports physicals, well-child exams, chronic care management, care for acute illnesses, preventive dental services, referrals, immu-nizations, behavioral health services, family planning services and health and wellness education.

We asked Sherrod Beall, the director of Coordinated School Health Services in Du-rango School District 9-R, to provide a few preventative health-care tips for parents and students as the new school year begins.

Q: What are the most common illness-es you see at the beginning of the school year and the change of season? A: The most common illness is the common cold. Viruses spread from kid to kid with cough-ing, runny noses, touching each other and putting hands in the mouth.

Q: What are some prevention tips for those common illnesses?

Hand washing, hand washing, hand wash-ing! Always do it before meals, after using the bathroom and after playing outside. Sanitizer containing alcohol helps reduce amount of germs, but is not the first line of defense and is not equal to the effectiveness of hand washing.

Q: Do you recommend a flu shot for all school-age kids?

Regular flu shots are recommended for all kids 6 months and older, especially if they have asthma, diabetes or a chronic lung dis-ease. The regular flu shot contains a dead virus that stimulates an immune response to the flu virus but cannot cause flu symptoms. The nasal spray flu vaccine or FluMist is

recommended for ages 2-49. It is important to receive the vaccine yearly. Seasonal flu vaccines protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.

Q: How do you handle it (and how can parents follow your lead) when you sus-pect a child is “faking it” to get out of school?

A: Most kids who are sick will look sick, often have a fever and have much lower lev-els of general activity. Fevers have a tenden-cy to go up in the afternoon and may not be evident in the morning. Kids with a continu-ous cough should remain at home until their cough becomes less frequent. With most common colds, which last between seven to ten days, improvement in symptoms is gen-erally seen after three or four days. If a par-ent is concerned when they send their child to school, they should notify the school’s health office.

Q: Are you concerned about the rise in local cases of pertussis due to parents opt-ing out of immunizations?

A: There is a concern about the potential increase in vaccine-preventable illnesses, especially pertussis and measles, in our schools. There is a significant rate of vac-cine exemptions that could contribute to the increase in these illnesses in the future. To prevent pertussis or whooping cough, the Tdap shot is required for all students in sixth through twelfth grade, regardless of when they had their last tetanus shot or Td. There is a concern regarding possible imported measles cases from Europe, which has seen a rise in that illness.

Q: If a parent has a child with a chronic health issue, who should they notify at a school, and what is the best way to do it?

A: If a child in school has a chronic ill-nesses, it is important that the parent talk to the nurse or aid in the health office at the child’s school, who will make sure that an appropriate care plan is developed in part-nership with the District RN. Any child in the district may be seen at two school-based health centers – Durango High School or Florida Mesa Elementary. New fees will ap-ply this coming school year.




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2012 La Plata County Back to School Guide

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Transcript of 2012 La Plata County Back to School Guide