Friday, September 30, 2011

Fluid Flexible Skill Grouping

At Pikes Peak Prep we always begin instruction where students are. If a child is behind where they should be, we work with them in a group for that specific skill. Once that skill is mastered they move on to the next skill. These groups are fluid. Students move in and out of various groups based on their needs. An example may be a third grade girl who is strong in reading, but struggles with math. For reading, she may be in a skill group working on a 6th grade skill. However, in math she may temporarily be in a fluid skill group working on a second grade skill. Once, she masters this skill, she immediately transitions into the next level group.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Academic Calendar

Every parent needs to stay up to date on their child's academic life, and we hope that the academic calendar provided on our website enables parents to do just that! Visit the website at http://pikespeakprep.org/calendars.html for the PPP academic calendar!!

Monday, September 26, 2011

At Pikes Peak Prep, all roads lead to college – and beyond

Pikes Peak Prep is a free public charter school and is committed to ensure that all students show growth in character, academics, life skills, the arts, and wellness using teaching skills tailored to meet the needs of each student.

We are one of a very few schools offering a Middle College program, which allows our qualifying high school students to take real college courses for real college credit – and it’s free of charge to our students and their families.

Our Middle College program is only one reason to attend Pikes Peak Prep.

Our curriculum and our teaching methods are designed to let your child excel as fast as their ability allows. This kind of competency-based approach lets kids of higher ability progress past students their same age. It also permits students to regroup, master material not mastered at a more restrictive school, then, with new-found confidence, race toward their academic potential.

Traditional public schools, parochial schools and other tuition-based private schools serve many children very well, but Pikes Peak Prep is here to provide a choice.

We offer a new way to excel.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Volleyball Update

Congratulations to the “Little Lady Eagles” on their wonderful strategic win Thursday afternoon. Special thanks to our “Eaglets” Cheerleading squad they really brought up the spirit! And a special thank you to all the adults who help put everything together you guy’s ROCK!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

About Charter Schools

Charter schools are free, public schools in Colorado that have been “freed” from some of the rules and regulations that apply to traditional public schools and other private and parochial schools, but that are held to a different level of accountability. Because charter schools are actually created by the approval of a “charter,” the terms of the charter must be met in order for the charter school to remain open.

While charter schools obtain funding from the State, they only receive a portion of the funds that go to traditional public schools. Charter schools do receive the funds that follow a student in Colorado from public school to public school, but they do not receive the transportation funds and capital funds that traditional public schools receive.

Charter schools are developed by extremely dedicated individuals whose goal is to serve a particular population of students that, in their charter, they have shown is currently underserved. Because of the dedication and vision of the schools’ founders, charter schools can fair pretty well despite the drastically reduced funding, but funding and a tight budget are always issues.

Monday, September 19, 2011

PPP Volleyball Gets Underway

Pikes Peak Prep held their first home volleyball game for the season. An incredible number of spectators arrived to see the elementary and middle school matches. Both our teams were able to put together some great serving in order to win their matches against Colorado Springs Charter Academy. The little Eaglets (first – third grade cheerleaders) helped heighten the team spirit. PTO participated by selling pizza at this event.
John Kessel from United States Volleyball Association recently worked with both teams during a practice. From 1990 John has been working for the National Governing Body of the sport, USA Volleyball, and oversees grassroots development and disabled volleyball. In 1995, Volleyball Magazine named him as one of the 50 most important people in the sport of volleyball in the first 100 years. His main goal is to help make coaches more efficient, positive and creative, no matter what the level - 7 year olds in elementary school program or National team players and program. He challenged our coaches with creative ways thinking while having fun in the process. Our entire team and coaches enjoyed his visit.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Volleyball Schedule

                                          Pikes Peak Prep Charter Volley Ball Season 2011
August 22, 2011 through October 14, 2011
Grades 4-6 Elementary Teams          Grades 7-8 Jr. High Teams
     Monday             Tuesday             Wednesday        Thursday                    Friday
      August 22
   VB  Informational
       3:40-4:20
    August 23
    August 24
     August25
      August 26
     VB Practice
      3:40-4:20
    August 29 
     VB Practice
     3:40-4:20

      August 30
   Away Game
CSCA  Grades 4-8 Elem 4:30  Jr. 5:30
     August 31
 September 1
  September 2
     VB Practice
      3:40-4:20
*Eaglets 3:45-4:15
 September 5
   NO SCHOOL
    September 6
   Home Game
CSCA  Grades 4-8 Elem 4:30  Jr. 5:30
      *Eaglets/Mascot
   September 7
  September 8
   Away Game
   Globe Elem
         4:30
  September 9
     VB Practice
      3:40-5:00
    H S starts prac
   September 12
         VB Practice
          3:40-5:00
  September 13
High School 4:00
City Auditorium Community Prep
  September 14
September 15

 September 16
      VB Practice
      3:40-5:00
   September 19
         VB Practice
          3:40-5:00
*Eaglets  3:45-4:15
  September 20
      Away Game
CSCA  Grades 4-8 Elem 4:30  Jr. 5:30

  September 21
 September 22
   Home Game
   Globe Elem
         4:30       *Eaglets/Mascot

 September 23
      VB Practice
      3:40-4:20
  September 26
       VB Practice
       3:40-5:00
*Eaglets 3:45-4:15
  September 27
   Home Game
   High School
Community Prep      Game Day 4:30    *Eaglets/Mascot

September 28
  September 29      Tournament
    Grades. 4-8
  Championship
  Home Game    *Eaglets/Mascot
          4:30
 September 30
      VB Practice
      3:40-5:00
   October 3

    High School    Practice 3:40-5:00
   October 4
  Home Game
  High School
Community Prep
        4:30
 
      
    October 5
     
          
    October 6
   Tournament
    High School
   Home Game
         4:30

     
    October 7

  Schedule subject to change         Coaches: Linda Johnson * Rhea Murphy          All games admission cost $2.00 for adults $1.00 for students

Mr. P's Purchases Classroom Calculators!

DonorsChoose.org creates a way for schools to access much needed support.

Now that Scientific Calculators for Pikes Peak Prep has all the support needed, it will soon become a reality in Mr. Pompelia's classroom.

I cannot thank you enough for your generous donations. I told my students that I was working to get a class set of calculators donated and when I told them today that it was actually becoming a reality they were beyond excited. Now I'll work to channel that excitement into some serious learning! We very much enjoyed tracking this project's progress for the last few weeks and I know how appreciative my students will be when they have these calculators in their hands.

Again, thank you for believing in the education of EVERY student, even those that may be less fortunate. You have made an investment in education and the future. Thanks!

With gratitude,
Mr. P

Monday, September 12, 2011

Pikes Peak Prep Volleyball

Pikes Peak Prep held their first home volleyball game for the season. An incredible number of spectators arrived to see the elementary and middle school matches. Both our teams were able to put together some great serving in order to win their matches against Colorado Springs Charter Academy. The little Eaglets (first – third grade cheerleaders) helped heighten the team spirit. PTO participated by selling pizza at this event.

John Kessel from United States Volleyball Association recently worked with both teams during a practice. From 1990 John has been working for the National Governing Body of the sport, USA Volleyball, and oversees grassroots development and disabled volleyball. In 1995, Volleyball magazine named him as one of the 50 most important people in the sport of volleyball in the first 100 years. His main goal is to help make coaches more efficient, positive and creative, no matter what the level - 7 year olds in elementary school program or National team players and program. He challenged our coaches with creative ways thinking while having fun in the process. Our entire team and coaches enjoyed his visit.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Eagles Inspire Winning

 Over 20 first, second and third graders are cheering our volleyball team to victory. These little Eaglets worked hard to excite the crowd at our first home volleyball game this year. The cheer team learned four cheers during the last week and received additional direction from some of our girls from high school. Dressed in their little light blue shirts, ribbons in hair and pom poms in hand the Eaglets definitely showed their spirit and inspired our elementary and middle school teams to put together winning matches. Come and experience their next performance at our home volleyball game on September 22 at 4:30 p.m.

Science Experiment


 

The fifth grade designed an experiment to test the scientific question of whether orange soda or diet coke would cause a larger explosion when mixed with Mentos. The class then organized their data and came to the conclusion that diet coke causes the bigger explosion. This experiment was done to study the processes of the scientific method and was conducted in an outside environment.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

A Welcome to Our Parents

What is happening at PPP in the history department?

        History Happenings
Newsletter for September, 2011                     Ms. Pamela Levicki                 719.570.7575 Ext. 3162
                                                                               plevicki@geoacademies.org


7th and 8th Grade:
Students began the year with a basic review of map skills, longitude and latitude, and the compass rose. We are now fully immersed in studying the seven continents. We have completed our units on North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. We are currently studying the geography, major landforms and topography, along with the different territories of Australia.
United States History:
To begin the study of America, one must examine this continent before the arrival of the Europeans. We studied the early migrations of the Native Americans, and their effect on this land. Along with the Native Americans, we studied the different European explorers and their impacts both on this continent and on Europe. We will begin to look at early Colonial America and its beginnings in our next unit.
World History:
 To begin the year, students completed a basic review of map skills, understanding different types of maps, projection, and latitude and longitude. Our first unit covered the countries, topography, climate, and culture of North and South America. All World History students should be able to identify at least 8 different countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Our next unit will focus on the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia.
Government:
What are rights? Why is it important to have a Constitution? These are just two issues that students have been debating in Government class. This past unit has covered basic civil rights and liberties, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and differences between a constitutional and dictatorial government. Our next unit will focus on the importance of the Framers of the Constitution and the impact the Constitution still has today.

***REMINDER*** Tutoring is available every Monday and Thursday from 3:30-4:00pm
Dates to Remember:

Ø  Labor Day Holiday – Monday, September 5, 2011 – NO SCHOOL
Ø  1:00pm Dismissal – Staff Development - Friday, September 16, 2011
Ø  Parent/Teacher Conferences – October 21, 2011 – No classes, conferences only

2011 Volleyball Schedule

An updated schedule has been posted!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Lady Eagles Volleyball Team

The Lady Eagles volleyball team have been practicing for the past week. Coached by Ms. Johnson and Ms. Alexander the team had only two practices before they had their first match at Colorado Springs Charter Academy. Many of the girls have never played this sport, so the accomplishment was amazing for our fourth - sixth grade Lady Eagles team to win the match. The girls soon learned that it’s all about the serve and many of the girls proved that they could power the ball over the net.

Three of our sixth graders had to play for the seventh – eighth Lady Eagles team since we only had three seventh graders. This provided these players plenty of playing time. They were able to win one game, and let their opponent barely squeeze out a win with a score of 14-15. The team spirit started to come alive as the girls provided support to each other. The Lady Eagles have started to take flight.

Plan on attending our next home game at Pikes Peak Prep on Tuesday, September 7th at 4:30. We will be entertained by the 1st – 3rd grade Eaglets cheer team. This cheerleading team, consisting of 27 little girls, will be coached by Ms. Murphy. Don’t miss it!