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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Excellent Teachers - a focus on Suzanne Foster, BMHS

Construction, Buildings and Grounds Update

Celebrating Academic and Athletic Success

CSAP Testing Begins

Evening of Stars, Teacher Recognition

Eagle County Teacher receives Sharon Wilch Lifetime Achievement Award

Eagle County Schools would like to recognize Suzanne Foster, Battle Mountain High School (BMHS) English and Mentor Teacher, for her enthusiasm and passion for speech and debate in the community. Proving the saying that “hard work truly pays off,” Suzanne was recently awarded the 2008 Sharon Wilch Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) presents this prestigious award to forensic coaches who have made a significant commitment to the speech community in Colorado through their innovative ideas, years of service on various committees and overall dedication to improving speech programs for students. “It is humbling to know that a large part of my receiving the Sharon Wilch Lifetime Achievement Award was through the nomination and recognition from my peers,” states Foster.

Suzanne has been the speech coach at the very reputable educational establishment in Eagle-Vail for 20 years, the same time she began her teaching in Eagle County Schools. In addition to serving on the CHSAA Speech Activities Committee and State Festival Tournament for over 15 years, Suzanne has hosted the Coaches Symposium for 12 years. She has dedicated her time to improving speech programs in schools throughout the nation by recruiting and training countless new coaches as the primary Festival Coach on the Activities Committee, proving her devotion to ensuring that struggling and less-than-popular programs at smaller schools survive.

This is the first time in history that the Sharon Wilch Lifetime Achievement Award has been given to a coach at the State Festival Tournament level. Similar to Sharon Wilch’s efforts, Suzanne stepped into coordinating the speech program at BMHS that clearly needed some inspiration.

Suzanne has maintained a highly competitive environment for the schools who attend the State Festival and has increased opportunities for schools that are new to the state speech tournament. BMHS took 30 kids to state this year; 17 students placed within the top 12 spots of each speech event. Senior Sean Pack and Sophomore Aaron Szindler led the BMHS Speech team to one of the best State Festival Competitions in the history of the team. Sean Pack is the 2008 State Champion in the category of ‘Solo Acting,’ while Aaron Szindler snagged the State Champion position in the category of ‘Humorous Interpretation.

Born in sunny San Diego, Suzanne learned to acclimate to a variety of locations (and climates) throughout her childhood, solely due the fact that having a father in the Navy meant traveling coast-to-coast quite often. When Suzanne was 10 years old, the constantly traveling Foster family finally settled in North Dakota. Suzanne attended elementary through high school in the Flickertail State, and continued her post-secondary adventures at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Impressively, Suzanne obtained her Undergraduate Degree in Language Arts Education with minors in French, Drama, and Journalism. As if the list wasn’t already long enough, this over-achiever was accepted into NDSU’s graduate program, where she received her Masters Degree in Language Arts Education.

After college, Suzanne was looking for more adventure in her life; a more complex scenery that would offer activities more conducive to her outdoor lifestyle. True to the tourist turned locale once they have visited, Suzanne found herself in the Colorado Rockies in 1987. She applied for jobs all across the state in hopes that she would find the perfect fit. After a three-hour long interview with Superintendent (at the time) Ron Smith, Suzanne was offered a job with BMHS teaching English and jump starting the lack thereof of a speech and drama program. Twenty-one years later, Suzanne is still standing, and clearly in for the long haul.

Principal Brian Hester could not be more pleased with the stellar performance Suzanne has displayed over the years. “Suzanne inspires students to maximize their potential in every capacity, whether in the classroom or in extracurricular activities,” states Brian. “She teaches with the same effort and excellence in all settings, whether it be a sophomore English class at 8:30am or a speech and debate practice at 8:30pm. This well-earned reputation enables Suzanne to recruit and develop a wide range of students, some of whom may never have considered speech, debate or drama, until face-to-face with her endless conviction and dedication. Students and staff want to be a part of her program.”

In addition to the work Suzanne has done with providing coaches throughout Colorado with the opportunity to learn and share experiences and knowledge for the benefit of all students, Suzanne she still finds time to conduct business as usual at BMHS; teaching speech, drama and forensics, and directing musicals and plays appealing to all different types of audiences is part of her everyday life. She has recently modernized and directed such Shakespeare classics as Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night. Suzanne’s undying devotion to her true passion in life is splashed across the walls of her classroom; posters such as Jekyll and Hyde, the Musical, Les Miserables, Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Chicago are just a few decorations that paint the mural that is her home away from home.

Watching students push themselves to take risks in areas of life where they wouldn’t normally do so is truly rewarding for Suzanne. “All kids need to find a place where they can be successful,” states Foster. We urge the Eagle County Schools community to join us in recognizing the dedication and hard work of teachers such as Suzanne Foster in preparing today’s students for future success.

Building Great Schools, East to West: Construction, Building & Grounds Update

Eagle County Schools would again like to take the opportunity to thank Eagle County community members who were in full support of the $128 million bond that was passed in the fall for improvements in our schools, which will ensure ‘Great Schools, East to West.’ In light of this success, we believe it is important to keep you informed of the progress of various projects and initiatives. The following is a construction, buildings and grounds update:

June Creek Elementary

Construction is proceeding on the project with the following items of interest that are on-going: structural steel erection, CMU, interior & exterior framing, exterior sheathing, HVAC rough in, snow and ice removal, electrical rough and roofing (pending weather). The anticipated completion date is August 2008.

Red Canyon High School

Construction is proceeding on the project with the following items of interest: exterior sheathing, mechanical rough in, interior Gyp board finishes and data wiring are all complete. Exterior finishes are on-going. The following items are underway for installation: glass, casework, ceramic tile and ceiling grid. In addition, doors and hardware are on-site and will be installed next week. The anticipated completion date is Spring 2008.

New Battle Mountain High School

Overall design is proceeding on the project with the following items of interest: H+L Architects are in close contact with State Inspectors and the overall building permit remains in progress. In addition, excavation for foundations and concrete placement for footings are both on-going. The Howard Ditch Piping agreement remains in progress; Peak Engineers, ECS, ARC and Eagle County have met and further investigation is underway. The anticipated completion date is Fall 2009.

Eagle Valley High School

Overall design is proceeding on the project with the following items of interest: Value Engineering and Cost Monitoring Design are both ongoing. In addition, SD Drawings from H+L were received and approved by the Board of Education on February 13, 2008. This project is scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2008, with an anticipated completion date of Winter 2009.

Remodel Battle Mountain High School

A committee has been formed to develop a plan that outlines the proposed use of the old Battle Mountain High School. The first meeting for this group is Thursday, February 28. A scope can then be developed and architects and contractors can be hired.

Miller Ranch Road Improvements

The overall design is complete. Request for proposal for the General Contractor is underway and is due back to ARC on February, 19, 2008. The anticipated completion date is August 2008.

2008 CSAP Testing begins in February

CSAP stands for Colorado Student Assessment Program and is designed to measure student achievement in relation to the Colorado Model Standards. Standards are the expectations of what students should know at particular points in their education. CSAP results give parents a snap shot of a child’s achievement in reading, writing and math in grades 3 through 10, and science in grades 5, 8 and 10.

The CSAP test is developed by a testing contractor (CTB McGraw Hill) and the Colorado Department of Education in collaboration with teams of teachers, curriculum specialists and community members from across the state.

The assessments are made up of a mix of multiple choice and open-ended questions, making it a very challenging exam. It is important to remember, however, that the test is based on Colorado Model Standards, as is the Eagle County Schools’ curriculum.

CSAP testing begins with grade 3 reading February 18 through February 28. All other grade levels and subject areas will be tested between March 10 and April 4. Please contact your child’s school for their testing schedule.

National Geo Bee Geniuses

Eagle Valley Middle School hosted the 20th Annual National Geography Bee last month. Sarah Meline came in first place (pictured left) and Zoe Thrasher came in second place (pictured right). Winners are given a written exam by the National Geographic Society and the top 100 candidates in Colorado will compete in a state bee at University of Denver in April. Eagle Valley Middle School has qualified 10 students in the past nineteen years to attend this state level competition. The winner of the state bee will advance to the finals in Washington, D.C. on May 21. Congratulations, girls!

2008 Kindergarten Roundup

Your child must be 5 years old on or before October 1, 2008, to enroll in kindergarten for the fall of 2008. Please call individual schools for an appointment.

Avon Elementary

April 8th & 9th

Brush Creek Elementary

April 8th & 10th

Eagle Valley Elementary

April 8th & 10th

Edwards Elementary

February 25th through 28th

Gypsum Elementary

April 16th & 17th

June Creek Elementary

March 3rd & 4th

(at Berry Creek Middle)

Meadow Mountain Elementary

March 3rd & 4th

Red Hill Elementary

April 15th & 16th

Red Sandstone Elementary

April 16th & 17th

Eagle Valley High All-State Band Member

Congratulations to All-State Musician Beverly Smart! Beverly, who has been playing the clarinet for the past 6 years, is the first EVHS sophomore to ever receive this honor. The All-State Band event will be hosted by the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley on March 27-29. Beverly will be performing with the Concert Band on March 29 at 4:00pm, which is only open to schools with 1,100 students or fewer. This young and talented musician, who has also played the piano for the past 7 years, has a dream of playing for a Symphony Orchestra in Germany, but has determined that graduating high school is her top priority. When Beverly visited Disneyland this year with the band, she was able to see how Disney composed their movie soundtracks, which really interested her. We are fortunate to have such talented musicians in our District!

Battle Mountain High Speech Team State Awards

The Battle Mountain Speech Team competed against 300 other students from 22 schools at the State Speech Festival on January 25 & 26. Senior Sean Pack and Sophomore Aaron Szindler led the Battle Mountain High School Speech team to one of the best State Festival Competitions in the history of the team. Sean Pack is the 2008 State Champion in Solo Acting and Aaron Szindler is the State Champion in Humorous Interpretation. Other results include:

In Impromptu Speaking:

Ian Dunlevie placed 3rd

In Value Debate:

Rebecca Jones earned an Excellent rating

James Cassidy Kuhn earned a Superior rating

Shea Wilson placed 7th

Ian Dunlevie placed 4th

In Duet Drama:

Pearl Burkham and Harrison Huntoon placed 9th

Emma Szindler and Sarah White placed 8th

In Duet Humor:

Sean Pack and Sarah Stookey placed 2nd

In Creative Storytelling:

Aaron Szindler placed 12th

In Poetry Interpretation:

Andrea Sanchez placed 12th

Allison Lanes placed 12th

Fiona Jeppson placed 4th

In Solo Acting:

Sara Stookey placed 8th

Sean Pack placed 1st

In Humor Interpretation:

Emma Szinlder placed 11th

Gina Lovell placed 8th

Aaron Szindler placed 1st

In Drama Interpretation:

Talli Hitt placed 8^th

Spring Theater Productions

The Boogie Man - Battle Mountain High, BMHS Auditorium

Thursday, April 10: Dinner at 6:00pm, Curtain at 7:30pm.

Friday, April 11: Curtain at 7:30pm (Silent Auction before the Curtain and during Intermission).

Saturday, April 12: Curtain at 7:30pm.

Sunday, April 13: Curtain at 2:00pm.

**Reservations can be made my calling 328-7834.

**Ticket prices: Dinner and Show -- $25 for Adults; $15 for Students and Senior Citizens; $10 Children under 11. Show only -- $15 for Adults; $7.50 for Students and Senior Citizens; $5 Children under 11.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Eagle Valley High, EVHS Auditorium

Thursday, March 13: Curtain at 7:00pm.

Friday, March 14, Curtain at 7:00pm.

Saturday, March 15: Curtains at 1:00pm and 7:00pm.

**Ticket prices: $11 for Adults; $7 for Students and Senior Citizens; $4 for Children under 5. Call 328-8960 for ticket information and matinee performance information.

The Youth Foundation (TYF)

The Youth Foundation’s mission is “to prepare children in need for success in life through education and recreational opportunities.” The Youth Foundation fulfills this mission by providing socially imperative “life skills” programs including Kindergarten Readiness, the Magic Bus, After-School Literacy, The First Tee, Academic Soccer, Neighborhood Net, Guardian Scholars and more, to enrich the lives of youth in Eagle County. The cost of living in the rural resort community dictates that many professional educators work second jobs. TYF hires local teachers to ensure that all programs are of the highest quality and teachers have an opportunity to augment their pay by participating in programs that provide a safe and nurturing environment for children. Additionally, TYF makes a concerted effort to work cooperatively with other non-profit organizations serving community youth, by providing referrals and partnering to offer fun and exciting opportunities for children.

The Youth Foundation impacts youth with positive mentorship, community interaction and recreational applications that inspire self-confidence, friendship and integrity in the hearts of participants as well as volunteers and supporters. Everyone involved is charged with helping young people discover their individual gifts and qualities that will help them become happy individuals and contributing members of society. By exercising a passionate, fun and sincere approach, The Youth Foundation has created an indispensable asset within the social fabric of the Eagle County community. To learn more about the Youth Foundation programs or to get involved visit the web-site at www.theyouthfoundation.org or call 970.763.7000.

Mark Your Calendars for the 15th annual Evening of Stars

The 15th annual Evening of Stars Teacher Recognition event will be held on Saturday, April 12, at the Vilar Center for the Arts at 6:00p.m. with a dinner and dance to follow at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek at 7:15p.m. Please nominate your favorite teachers for the Outstanding Educator Award and/or your favorite volunteer for the Friend of Education Award by Monday, March 3. Nomination forms and instructions can be found at www.eagleschools.net.

In 2008, there will be an Outstanding Educator Award recipient from each school and two each from Battle Mountain High and Eagle Valley High. Additionally, there will be district-wide Friend of Education Award for an individual from outside of the school district who contributes over and above. We will also honor an outstanding first-year teacher, Rookie of the Year.

Evening of Stars is made possible by the Public Education Foundation of Eagle County. We encourage parents and community members to attend this fun-filled event to honor the outstanding teachers who make such a difference in the lives of children each day. Please sign up to attend at your school or by filling out the Reservation/Donation Form on www.eagleschools.net. Event prices are as follows:

$35 – Community members

$15 – Teachers

$20 – Spouses of teachers

The Parent’s Handbook

Check out our up-to-the minute, family calendar of events at: www.theparentshandbook.com. Pick up a copy and see the incredible money saving coupons.