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Calendar of Events
November 21
HS Play, “Get Smart” (Theater): 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.
November 23
Town Hall for Parents (Core Commons): 7:00 p.m.
November 24
Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day: 8:15 a.m.
Alumni Pizza Party (Alumni Center): 12:00 p.m.
MS Basketball vs. Day Spring Christian (Home): 4:00 p.m.
November 25 - 28
Thanksgiving Break
From our Program Director
By Mark T. Twarogowski
“Action Research” Well Underway at Denver Academy
Research has shown that efforts to improve teacher quality are key to improving student achievement in primary and secondary education in the US. That is why Denver Academy has made faculty development a cornerstone of our program. The average teacher at DA receives at least 75 hours of professional development training during the school year.
We strive to provide a robust program that helps our teachers continue to grow, and this year we are taking a different approach, with a more “hands on” program. Gone are the hour- long, “drive by” in-service workshops that focus briefly on one topic or another. Instead, our teachers are participating in small “teacher learning teams” (TLT’s), each involved in a form of professional development known as “action research.” Each team is responsible for coming up with a research question that they’d like to have answered. The teachers then design a research project, collect data for a period of time, analyze that data and then develop an action plan designed to improve their teaching and their students’ learning. This type of research, as compared to formal, “university research” is quite empowering for our teachers. It encourages them to reflect on their own teaching, it allows them to collaborate with their peers, and finally, it can lead to instant and effective changes in their teaching and students’ achievement.
This year, we have assembled 13 learning teams, and each has developed a research question to focus on this year. Some examples of these questions are listed below:
- What differentiated instruction practices can we use in our classrooms to inspire students who are not in their area of “bliss,” while continuing to challenge the students who are?
- How can we help our students improve in the area of executive functioning? (the mental process that regulates planning, organizing, prioritizing, making decisions, and managing time)
- What can we do to prevent or minimize the effects of teacher “burnout?”
- How can we best improve the “college readiness” for our students?
- How can we most effectively meet the needs of our “twice-exceptional” students by challenging their areas of strength while remediating their areas of need?
- How can we best leverage the creativity of our students across the curriculum?
As you can see, our teachers have chosen a variety of issues to explore this year. What they have in common is that each topic has been selected because it is meaningful and relevant to the teachers involved. At the end of their study, each group will make recommendations based on what they have learned through their action research and will share their results with their peers and colleagues. We are pleased with the energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism shown by our teachers and look forward to the results of their “action research.”
For more about “action research,” feel free to contact me at mtwarogowski@denveracademy.org.
Have a nice weekend!
Denver Academy Town Hall Meeting for Parents
November 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the Core Commons/High School Building
Join Board President Cindy Brown, DAPA President Deb Ellis, and Headmaster Kevin Smith to learn about the results of the parent survey and focus groups, to learn about initiatives underway to advance our school programs, and to discuss future initiatives.
HS Theater Production: “Get Smart”
There are a limited number of tickets still available for the Saturday (November 21) performances of “Get Smart” (at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) To guarantee a seat, you can purchase advance tickets online for $5.00. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $6.00.
Based on the television series by Mel Brooks, this play is full of laughs and adventure from one of TV’s most renowned and loveable spies. Starring in the student production are: Michael Bilker as Smart, Emily Shirk as 99, Brendan Kohler as the Chief and Scott Baldwin as Mr. Big.
Grandparents’ and Special Adults’ Day!
Grandparents’ and Special Adults’ Day (for Elementary and Middle School Families) will be held on Tuesday, November 24 at 8:15 a.m.! Please remember that all DA students are asked to “dress up” in DA’s old dress code (no jeans, collared shirts, etc.) on the 24th.
Parenting Students with Learning Differences for Success After High School
December 3, 2009, 6:30-8:30, Core Commons
All high school parents are expected to attend this event. During the evening, parents will have the chance to choose from three of eleven parenting sessions.
Elementary Parent Date Night
Elementary Parents – the Elementary Student Council is sponsoring a free “Date Night” on Friday, December 11 from 6 – 9 p.m. Drop off your kids at DA and go out on a date! Click here for more information or contact Evan Borg.
Cookie Exchange!
Parents - save the date for the Denver Academy Cookie Exchange on Tuesday, December 15 at 10:00 a.m.! Jody Charmatz will host the gathering at her house, and it is open to all DA parents.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Jody at 720-560-4023.
Denver Academy Adopt–a–Family Program
The Adopt–a–Family Program is a partnership between Denver Academy and Denver Health Medical Social Work Department. Each year for the past eight years we have teamed up to bring holiday gifts and necessities such as food and heat to families in the Metro area. Following are some ways to help:
- Adopt a family as a homeroom or division.
- Individual DA families can either adopt or donate money
- Donate specific items on our families’ lists.
Family wish lists will be available soon. All items must be delivered to Linda Sears by Friday, December 11 to ensure delivery for the holidays.
However you decide to help, you will be making a huge difference in the lives of these families. For more information, please contact Linda Sears, Student Senate Advisor at Denver Academy, 303-777-5870.
DA Teacher Honored for Volunteer Work
Progressive High School Teacher, Steve Livingston, and his wife Denise were recently honored as “Volunteers of the Year” by a local non-profit organization called International Adoption Net (IAN). They received the award at IAN’s silent auction/dinner to raise money for a hospital in Ethiopia.
The Livingstons became involved with the organization when they adopted their son, Gierma, from Ethiopia earlier this year. Click here to read more on their adoption story and here to see pictures of them receiving the award. Congratulations to Steve and Denise!
Alum Presents to Students
Austin Granger, class of 2008, presented to the Prep Eleventh Graders about the history and achievements of the American space program. The presentation was part of a class he is taking as a student at the School of Mines. Click here to see a picture of Austin with Fred Miller!
Article by DA Staff & Faculty Members Published in Educational Journal
Travis Macy and Philippe Ernewein had an article titled, “Teacher as Facilitator in a Flatter Classroom,” published in the on-line journal, Independent Teacher. Click here to read it. Travis and Philippe hope the article will promote lively discussion and debate about education that will be useful and interesting to independent school educators.
Independent Teacher is an electronic journal which publishes articles on curriculum and pedagogy, across all grades and disciplines, of particular interest to independent school teachers.
Box Tops Fundraiser Update
Congratulations to Mr. Duhamel’s class for winning the Box Tops Pizza Party! His class collected the most Box Tops. It was a close race, with the winning class edging the runner up by six Box Tops! In total, over 1,300 Box Tops were collected to help support DA.
The Box Tops collection campaign continues, so please continue to collect Box Tops, especially over the holidays. Stay tuned for more details on the party for the winning class! Click here for more information on the Box Tops program.
Additionally, we will be starting a new fundraiser right after the holidays collecting ink cartons and recycling electronics. Start collecting these now; this will raise hundreds of dollars for DA! Details will follow shortly.
No Dateline DA Next Week
Due to Thanksgiving Break, the next issue of Dateline DA will be distributed on Friday, December 4. An e-mail with key dates and deadlines will be distributed on Monday, November 30. Happy Thanksgiving!
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