GSHS Newsletter - April 2020
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It’s April 1 and I feel that someone is playing a practical joke on us that is not funny and has gone too far. Unfortunately, our circumstances are all too real. We are learning that switching from bricks and mortar schooling to online schooling, is very complex. It is not just a question of firing up the computer and we are all ready to do school. That is why the Roaring Fork district plan is to have us move deliberately through phases.
You should have already seen the graphic pictured above. The Roaring Fork district has consulted experienced on-line schools to learn the best practices, and this is the recommended approach.
In this first week of phase 1, teachers are calling home to speak to every student to check in with them to find out such information as to whether or not they have a computer available, if they are connected to the internet (many are not) and generally how they are doing. In addition to contacting students, teachers are writing new curriculums for the last quarter of school and learning new skills in how to teach online. We cannot just do the same thing online we used to do in classrooms. Some assignments are no longer possible, some expectations are no longer reasonable and some objectives are no longer valuable.
Starting on Monday, April 6 we will be ready to offer more educational activities and that process will intensify in the following week. By April 20 we will be going at full speed, delivering the new curriculum.
If your child is taking an AP course he or she is supported through the College Board which has posted online lessons. We already know that the AP examination will cover much less material and that the test will last only 45 minutes and will be done in the student’s home. Given that College Board has reengineered AP for us, our teachers and students are able to get going almost immediately with these classes.
By Friday of this week, we will be publishing week-at-a-glance information sheets so that parents and students know what is expected during the following week. I can tell you now that ultimately students will be expected to do about 30 minutes of work per subject per day, adding up to about 4.5 hours, though students taking AP can expect an hour per AP subject. One difference between online school and being in a school building is that students will decide when they do the work each day. We will not have red and white days. If a student wants to sleep until 10:00 am and work at 10:00 pm, that will be fine. But students will continue to get lots of help and feedback from their teachers, especially during what we are calling Office Hours.
I ask you to join us in embracing the following principles. Nobody signed up for this. We all have to remain flexible and adjust to the situation. Nobody knows where this is going or what we’ll need to adapt. Everybody needs support and understanding.
Be safe.
Paul Freeman
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Aeson Akins
won the COSSAR (Colorado Society, Sons of the American Revolution)
Outstanding Cadet Award
this year. In addition to the JROTC swag, he'll receive a $500 check and will be the Colorado entrant for the national competition to be held in June.
Aeson won the award based on leadership qualities, military bearing, and general excellence: academic, athletic, and character. Additionally, applicants were required to submit an essay and two letters of recommendation, one from the principal. GSHS JROTC has now won the State award three years in a row!
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And,
Bailea Ramsey
, a third-year GSHS AFJROTC cadet, won a three-year
Army ROTC Scholarship
to Coastal Carolina University. The award covers tuition sophomore through senior year, all book and class fees, nursing equipment, housing allowance, and a living stipend. It's worth approximately $75,000. She plans to major in Nursing and upon graduation, will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. She wants to be a nurse.
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Additionally, please congratulate
Isabella Nevin and Daniela Barajas-Lee. They both had made
All-State Band on clarinet. The festival would have occurred last weekend. Needless to say they were a bit bummed about it being cancelled.
Join us in supporting these very talented and hard working musicians.
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Finally,
Liah Ramirez
has been selected to receive a Certificate of Accomplishment from Princeton University as part of its Princeton Prize in Race Relations program. In essence, Liah was a runner up for the
Princeton Prize in Race Relations
, and while Liah was not selected for the Prize this year, the committee is very impressed with Liah’s racial equity work and would like her to be formally recognized and commended for that work.
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Parent/Senior Dedication Ads for Yearbook
Senior ads for the 2020 Glenwood Springs High School yearbook are now available for purchase online. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate your graduate!
When your ad is finished, click ‘Finalize and Submit’ to enter payment information and submit your ad for publication. Click on the help menu for additional information. ADS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY APRIL 27!
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Senior Scholarships
Unfortunately, the Scholarship Awards Night is cancelled due to the government restrictions governing social interaction. Instead, we will be contacting students who received a scholarship by telephone, and a followup letter will be mailed.
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Senior Transcripts
Seniors, you must complete the Final Transcript Request Form, click here:
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Senior Capstone Information
Completing a capstone is still a graduation requirement (they were due on March 18), but there will be modifications.
No matter where seniors are with their capstone, they need to submit their portfolio as soon as possible in Schoology. Tom Penzel will then look at the final portfolio and offer suggestions and/or modifications. Submitted capstones will be graded by April 14. Capstones will be either approved with a pass or returned with feedback so that they can pass. At this time, all presentation venues have been canceled. Seniors just need to describe what they would have done and/or submit what they have. Tom Penzel has posted updates in Schoology and is available to help via email, google hangouts, or his cell. Seniors should feel free to contact him if they need any help or have questions.
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CMC Classes Now Online
- All CMC classes have moved to an online format which began on Monday, March 23rd; students were notified via email and Canvas (CMC’s online learning management system). For the most up-to-date information from CMC click here.
- Online tutoring is available: click here
- Students should complete the CEPA Application (click here) if they plan to enroll in CMC classes for Fall 2020.
- Enrollment for Fall 2020 classes will begin on April 15th. Registration details to follow! Browse classes available: click here
- CMC Concurrent Enrollment Coordinator, Wynter Corte, is available for questions! Contact Information: wgcorte@coloradomtn.edu (video-conferencing available by appointment!)
The Course Withdraw Date has been extended until April 15th. A reminder that students are required by RFSD to pay for the class if they withdraw, and they will receive a ‘W’ on their official college transcript. If students do not withdraw, and do not finish the class, they receive an F.
Accuplacer testing has been canceled through April 3rd (as of now). We are looking at alternative placement options (TBD).
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AP Examinations
The faculty and administration of GSHS want you to know that you are very much in our thoughts. We hope you are managing to find ways to stay motivated for your AP Classes and Exams, even if your new plan is not quite the old plan.
We believe that students enrolled in Advanced Placement classes will be interested to know:
• GSHS will continue with Advanced Placement courses and examinations.
• Examinations will last only 45 minutes and will only contain Free Response problems (no multiple choice).
• Students will take their AP tests at home.
• Beginning on Wednesday, March 25, students and schools will have access to free, live AP review lessons, delivered by AP teachers from across the country. The lessons will focus on reviewing the skills and concepts from the first 75% of the course. These mobile-friendly classes are: (1) designed to be used alongside work that will be given by your GSHS teachers, and (2) recorded and will be available on-demand so teachers and students can access them any time.
There will be many more details provided when College Board, the AP organization, releases a further statement on April 3. For now please check here...
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National Spanish Examination
This semester GSHS Spanish students are taking the National Spanish Examination/Assessment online.
The National Spanish Exam through the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese is taken by thousands of American learners of Spanish as a second language each year. High scores can result in
scholarships, travel vouchers, and other awards
. GSHS students practice online with Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading, and Listening games and quizzes through Quia.
Spanish 3 students completed one preliminary Assessment in March, and all students will be taking the online examination when the AATSP determines how to best to test.
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Kudos to GSHS Winter Sports Athletes
Please join us in congratulating outstanding performance by some of our Winter Sports athletes and teams...
The
Girls Basketball
team made it to the Sweet 16.
The
Boys Basketball
team made it to the Elite 8.
The
Ice Hockey
team won their first ever playoff game and made it to the 2nd round.
Erik Krauth
and
Amos Wilson
both qualified for the state wrestling tournament with Amos finishing 3rd.
The
Girls Swimming
team finished in 6th place at the state meet.
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All Non-Essential Activities Cancelled
CHSAA has announced that all spring sports and activities (including practices) will be suspended (temporarily) to address concerns surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The situation will be monitored and evaluated with key decision-makers from around the state to determine when, or if, to resume the spring season. State Mock Trial was also cancelled.
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GSHS Coaching Staff
If you are considering joining a sports team this year, please contact your sports' coach to find out more information.
Volleyball - Kehau Rust
krust@
rfschools.com
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Click on the calendar link below to view times and other events!!!
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NEW: RFSD Graduation Requirements
The key change for Roaring Fork Schools is that graduates will now have to demonstrate college and career readiness in addition to fulfilling district course requirements. Beginning with the class of 2021, students receiving a diploma from Roaring Fork Schools must meet two criteria: (1) Meet the state graduation guidelines that identify college and career readiness measures in English and math as adopted by the Colorado State Board of Education; and (2) Complete Roaring Fork School District course requirements.
Previously, Roaring Fork students had the option of completing 30 course requirements
or
demonstrating college readiness in English or math. The new guidelines require students to do both: complete district course requirements and demonstrate college readiness.
Counselors have been working with students to prepare them for the new course requirements to graduate in 2021 and beyond. Roaring Fork Schools has developed a system to help track student progress and high school counselors will be working with students individually to assist students with meeting the state's requirements.
Students must complete one of the approved assessments or measures outlined
here
and meet or exceed the determined cut score to demonstrate college and career readiness in both English and math. On April 14th, juniors will have their first opportunity to fulfil this requirement by taking the School Day SAT. The School Day SAT is part of the annual spring assessments and is free to all students. Regardless of college and or career plans, all students are encouraged to demonstrate their best effort on the upcoming School Day SAT.
Students who score at least 470 on English and at least 500 on math will meet the demonstration requirements for graduation.
The new policy still allows flexibility for district requirements for students with individual needs: “These requirements may be modified according to individualized plans for students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and for students with special circumstances as approved by the Chief Academic Officer.” For state requirements, we will be able to provide accommodations and supports for students.
If you have any questions, please contact your school’s counselor.
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City Market pays GSHS
City Market will donate to GSHS every time you shop! Simply go to
CityMarket.com
, click on Savings & Rewards then click on Community Rewards and enroll. It is so easy and is a huge help to the school, thank you!
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Yearbook Purchases
2020 Yearbook Staff
If you would like to help us put together the yearbook this year, please send a message to Mr. Gonzales (
bgonzales@rfschools.com
) to let him know you can help out.
Parent/Senior Dedication Ads for Yearbook
Senior ads for the 2020 Glenwood Springs High School yearbook are now available for purchase online. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate your graduate!
When your ad is finished, click ‘Finalize and Submit’ to enter payment information and submit your ad for publication. Click on the help menu for additional information. ADS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY APRIL 27!
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Thank you for being part of this wonderful school.
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