Sage Canyon Elementary will be celebrating its Grand Opening on Monday, August 2, 2010 at the school, 2420 Autumn Sage Street, Castle Rock.

Ribbon cutting and ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. There will be tours of the new school, an opportunity to meet the teachers, purchase spirit wear and take pictures. There will also be a book fair, bake sale and food for purchase. Visit the school website to R.S.V.P.

Come and welcome Douglas County School District's newest elementary school!

Luan Ezra, principal of Copper Mesa Elementary in Highlands Ranch, received a 2010 Wright Way Award from the Colorado Principals’ Center.
 
The Wright Way Award was initiated in 1993 to honor outstanding Colorado principals. The award is named for the Center’s late Executive Director, Lance Wright, and honorees are chosen because they exemplify the qualities of creativity, reflection and collaboration.

“Luan is an outstanding leader and educator who has consistently proven her dedication, energy and passion for the community at Copper Mesa,” says Director Clay Abla.

Principals are nominated by their schools or districts, and recipients are determined by a selection team of Center Board members and previous recipients. The team reviews nomination materials and also visits schools to talk to the principal, staff and students. The Colorado Principals’ Center is based at the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Colorado, Denver.
 

There’s still time to sign your student up for transportation services.

Application packets and route information were sent out to all eligible District families and must be completed and returned to secure bus transportation for your student(s) for the 2010-11 school year. Upon receipt of the completed application, ZPASS cards and instructions will be mailed. Your first ZPASS card is issued at no cost; any additional cards, including lost or stolen ZPASS cards, will cost $5.

Families who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program, and all students with an IEP requiring transportation, will not be charged a transportation fee. However, you must still complete and return the Application for Transportation Services.

All schools will have application packets for students requesting service. The application is also available for download here. For more information, please contact the Transportation Department at 303-387-0447.

Discount King Tut tickets still available from DCEF

Don’t forget to take advantage of discount tickets for the King Tut exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. Save $4 per ticket and enjoy NO ticket service fees! Also receive a free audio tour ($5 value). Order online now as this is an exclusive limited time offer: visit http://tickethorse.com/tut, click on the “Promotion Code” package and type in the code TDC10. Select the total number of Exhibit Tickets (adult and/or child) you would like purchase. Select the Audio Tour check box, and enter the quantity of FREE audio tours to receive. Select any additional items (Egypt 3-D film/Exhibition Catalogue); at the bottom of the page, click the “Select Price Range” button, and select the time slot you want by clicking on the “Price Level” bar; select delivery and payment method; tickets have to be ordered a minimum of 36 hours before a scheduled viewing time. Discount code expires on August 31, 2010.

Participate in new School Choice Task Force

Douglas County School District is announcing the creation of the DCSD School Choice Task Force to outline the vision for school choice in the District. The Task Force will focus on defining the school choice options that are needed, and how to increase those choice options.

Based on the results of a Districtwide survey on School Choice and Options, the group formed seven subcommittees to address the issues in the survey results. The subcommittees will focus on: Contract Schools; Option Certificates (wherein student funding follows the students to the school of their choice); Home School Programs and Partnerships; Charter Schools – Five Year Plan; Neighborhood School Autonomy/Option Schools/Magnet Schools; Open Enrollment Reform; and Online Learning Programs.

Anyone interested in joining one or more subcommittees is welcome to attend the next meeting on August 19 at 7 p.m. at the District administration building, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock. For more information about District option schools, click here. To see the results of the School Choice Survey, click here.

The next Board of Education meeting will take place on Tuesday, August 3, at 5 p.m. in the third floor board room of the School District Admin Building (620 Wilcox Street) in Castle Rock. Meeting agenda and minutes are available on the District website under the Board of Education link.