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Your weekly news source!
Quick links to this week’s articles: Click the links below to jump directly to a specific article Calendar of Events
January 18
School Closed – MLK Holiday
January 21
HS Boys Basketball Game vs. Nederland (Home): 5:30 p.m.
From our Program Director
By Mark Twarogowski
Denver Academy Faculty to Attend “Courage to Risk” Education Conference
Today should be a pretty quiet day on campus at Denver Academy, but this will not be the case on the grounds of the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. The Broadmoor is the site of the 2010 Courage to Risk Collaborative Conference for Special Education, and the entire DA teaching faculty will be in attendance. This year’s conference, sponsored by such organizations as the Council for Exceptional Children and the Learning Disabilities Association, brings together some of the leading researchers and practitioners in the field of learning differences. This annual conference is one of the largest and best regional conferences targeted at parents and professionals serving children with learning differences.
Denver Academy is committed to providing our teaching faculty with the best professional development possible, and our attendance at Courage to Risk is a valuable part of our effort to stay on top of the latest research and practice in the field of education.
This year we are proud to be represented at Courage to Risk by our Dean of Faculty Training, Philippe Ernewein and by Gayle Bell, a DA high school teacher who have both been invited to deliver presentations at the conference. Philippe will be presenting a session titled, “Rewiring the Brain: Multi-tasking, Creativity, and Unlearning in a Digital World,” and will be joined by a group of current and former DA high school students as co-presenters. This will be Philippe’s eleventh year in a row presenting at Courage to Risk, and his student-led presentations have become participant favorites at the conference. Gayle Bell will be presenting a session titled, “Choosing Your Road to Education: A Study in Student Choice and Motivation.” This is Gayle’s first appearance as a presenter at Courage to Risk, but will likely draw a good crowd as Denver Academy has established a reputation for delivering valuable, entertaining, and informative workshops over the years.
Expect to see our teachers return to school on Tuesday rested, inspired, re-energized, and armed with a few new tricks-of-the-trade as we move in to the second half of a great year! Have a great weekend! New Parent Orientation
Wednesday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m., Core Commons
An orientation will be held for parents who enrolled a student after the start of the 09-10 school year. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about being a DA parent, meet the Headmaster and Administrators, and get to know other new families.
Adopt–a–Family
Written by Hannah Crawford, Student Senate President
Every year since 7th grade I have had the pleasure of ending my first semester completely immersed in the Denver Academy Adopt–a–Family program, sponsored by Student Senate in conjunction with Denver Health Medical. In this service project needy families are “adopted” by willing participants in every area of the school, from administrative staff to the 6th grade division. This past year, I feared that we would not have as much support from around the school (due to the current economic climate). Not even a week after the Dateline DA ran the first story about the program, my fears were dissolved. Support came spilling out of the Denver Academy community, all directed at helping families they didn't know, and may never meet. Seeing individuals come forward and wanting to give was inspiring. On behalf of the Student Senate and all the needy families given a spectacular Christmas, I would like to thank the entire Denver Academy community for their unwavering generosity and support. Click here to view pictures of students as they wrapped, organized and transported gifts to families.
Parent Coffee: A Parent's Guide to Your Child's Brain: Understanding Three Key Areas for Academic, Social and Emotional Success
Monday, January 25, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m., Core Commons
All parents are welcome to attend this presentation by Craig Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div, P.C.
Topics will include: How the frontal lobe affects impulse control The mirror neuron system and how it affects a child’s ability to achieve social independence, process nonverbals and exhibit empathy The relationship between amygdala intensity and the emotional brain
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Conte via phone or email at 303-777-5870, ext. 216 or lconte@denveracademy.org. Parking Lot Safety
Student Safety is our number one priority. Please help us by using your best judgment during drop-off and pick-up times. Morning drop off and afternoon pick up can be hectic times as the students have high energy and are eager to see their friends. We do our best to encourage the students to stay on the sidewalk and grassy areas, but sometimes they forget! You can help us keep the kids safe by encouraging your child to exit out of your car on the side closest to the building. This would alleviate the students opening their car doors into the morning traffic. Also, make sure to look for kids walking between cars as you pull out (some of them are pretty small!). Please drive SLOWLY while on the Denver Academy campus. We also ask that you not leave your car parked in the drop-off lane to walk your student in or talk to a teacher. This adds to the congestion and possible safety issues. Please use parking spaces when you come into the building. Thank you for helping us keep your children safe!
ACT Prep Course
Kyle Kirby and Luke Turnier are offering an eight-week ACT preparation course which will cover all four subject areas of the test (Math, Science, Reading, and English) beginning the first week of February. In addition to specific subject areas, the course will teach test-taking skills and will involve a lot of practice. Each class will cap at four students, which means a great deal of personal tutoring. Each student will spend one hour each week in a math and science clinic taught by Kyle Kirby and one hour in an English and reading clinic taught by Luke Turnier. Class spots are first come, first serve. For more information on the program and fees, please contact Luke. The Annual Fund Thermometer is Rising!
Click here to track participation levels.
Your Annual Fund donation could take us over 50% parent participation and halfway to our goal of 100%! Don’t delay, donate today on our secure website. If you already donated or pledged to the DA Annual Fund, thank you!
Coffee and Conversation for DA Parents
Tuesday, January 19 at 9:00 a.m.
Get together with other DA parents for coffee and conversation. We will meet at 9:00 a.m. at Einstein’s Bagels on Colorado and Yale. For more info contact Jody at 720-560-4023 or josews702@aol.com. Movies Made in Middle School (MMIMS)
Middle school students showed off their movie making skills last night at the 2nd Annual “Movies Made in Middle School” (MMIMS). The house was packed, and the crowd had the opportunity to view nine films from these young filmmakers. Click here to view pictures from the evening. Basketball Team Pictures
Team Pictures for the high school basketball teams will be taken on Tuesday, January 26. The girls’ team photo will be taken at 2:30 p.m. and the boys’ team photo will be taken at 3:00 p.m. DA Alum Appears in NBC’s “Parks and Recreation”
Graduate Scott Portlock (Class of 2002) had a small part in last night’s (Thursday) episode of Parks & Recreation. Click here to watch the episode. Scott appears at the 11:57 mark. Faculty 67, Alumni 62
It was a close game, but the faculty team was victorious in the annual Alumni/Faculty basketball game. Read more about it and check out pictures on the DA Web site.
First Winter Camp a Success!
Seven students started the Winter Break holiday by attending Denver Academy’s first winter camp on Monday, December 21. Elementary and Middle School Drama teacher Katie Bradford started the day with energizing drama activities for the camp attendees. Unseasonably warm weather allowed for outdoor playground fun and basketball games, and artist Carol Redmond (T.A. in the MS West) ended the day teaching the students how to do oil pastel and pastel chalk portraits as well as making designs using paper marbling. Click here to check out photos from Winter Camp. |
