A Big Thank-You to CenturyLink

Pikes Peak Prep would like to send a huge Thank-you to local CenturyLink employees for the recent school supplies donation on October 21, 2011. CenturyLink is known for their philanthropic focus on K-12 Education and we are very greatful for their support of our school. Thank-you!

Moving and Grooving at PPP

Everyone is moving at Pikes Peak Prep.  Every morning staff and students exercise together for five minute to get their blood flowing.  It’s a great way to start the day.  The students have other opportunities to move around in physical education, stretching club, exercise club and volleyball.

Wednesday = Game Day!

The students at Pikes Peak Prep enjoy playing games during Wednesday Club. Students have time to learn new games from cards to chess. This club provides students a social opportunity in competitive environment.

French Club!

          Bienvenue! Welcome to French Club!

French club meets every Wednesday in the kindergarten classroom immediately following dismissal. The club is dismissed at 4:00 sharp. French club is offered to 3rd-12th grade students at Pikes Peak Prep. Students will learn to greet each other in French and will be exposed to French culture through listening to French music, watching French film and eating French food! I am eager to have your child participate!

Thank you,

Ms. Casey Reinhardt

Kindergarten Teacher

History Happenings

       

Newsletter for October, 2012                            Ms. Pamela Levicki                 719.570.7575   Ext. 3162

                                                                    plevicki@geoacademies.org

7^th and 8^th Grade:

We have completed our unit on Europe and are currently studying the geography, major landforms and topography, along with the different countries of Asia – as well as their capitals. The students are engaged in an awesome map project detailing the countries and capitals of Asia – they are looking great!

United States History:

We are studying the earliest European settlements in the U.S.; Roanoke, Jamestown, Plymouth, and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The students will know and understand why the Europeans wanted to come to America for reasons beyond religious persecution. We will explore the adventures and hardships of these first European settlers in America.

World History:

Our Unit on Europe was an excellent success – we researched different European countries, studied the landforms and geography of the region, located many European countries and their capitals on a variety of maps. Our research project had each student focus on a different European country, presented the information to the class, and created trivia question to use for European Jeopardy!  

Government:

We have been focusing on the importance of the Framers of the Constitution and the impact the Constitution still has on our lives and government today. Students have engaged in lively debates regarding what is and is not constitutional. Aside from the basic ideas of the Constitution, we have explored the meaning behind many of its ideals. Along with the Constitution, we have discussed the amendments, and how they have impacted our lives today.

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

Dates to Remember:

Ø  Conferences – October 21, 2010

Ø  Fall Break – NO SCHOOL – October 24-31, 2010 CLASSES RESUME TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011

Ronald McDonald

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile offered checkups, immunizations, sports physicals and medical and dental care for our Pikes Peak Prep students on September 21^st and 22^nd at the school.  Appointments were scheduled and families were able to take advantage of this great service.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile™ is a state-of-the-art vehicle that delivers cost-effective medical and dental services directly to children in their own neighborhoods. The RMCM is designed and built specifically as a pediatric healthcare center providing care for children ages 0-21. The center offers a range of services from preventative routine exams to same-day treatment of acute illness and injury, on-going primary care, immunizations and school and sports physicals.

Our Middle College Program at Pikes Peak Prep

We currently have two seniors at PPCC.  Both took the Accuplacer.  Katy Hartlaben, a junior, passed all three parts.  Last year she earned 10 college credits.  She is currently enrolled in three classes; Communication 125, English 122, Anthropology 101 and will earn an additional 9 credits at the end of this semester. Right now, we plan on Katy taking 4 classes next semester and earning an additional 12 credits.  So at the end of this year she should have 31 credits.  Next year, she will easily complete her Associate Degree as a senior.  

Berea Olson, a senior also passed the Accuplacer.  Last year she earned 3 college credits.  This semester she is taking 2 classes; English 121 and Business 115.  She should earn 6 credits.  So at semester she should have earned 9 credits.  Depending on how successful she is, she will take one or two classes next semester.  Therefore, she will have 12 – 15 college credits when she graduates.

                                                                                      All Roads Lead to College . . .Let's Graduate! ! !

We anticipate additional Pikes Peak Prep students joining these two in the Middle College Program next semester.  We will have over 50 students taking the Accuplacer in October.

Box Tops for Education at Pikes Peak Prep

Box Tops for Education has helped America’s schools earn over $400 million since 1996. You can earn cash for Pikes Peak Prep by clipping Box Tops coupons from hundreds of participating products. Box Tops also offers easy ways to earn even more cash for our school.

The Pikes Peak Prep PTO is collecting these box tops.  Please drop off your box tops at the front desk to our students education.

Mr. Vorster’s 3rd Grade Classroom News

Reminders for October:

·         Uniform Reminders:  Please remember to wear proper uniform EVERY day. See page 6 in the handbook if you have questions about the dress code.

·         Progress Reports should be read and signed by parents every Friday, to be returned to the teacher by Monday.  Students getting a “Needs Improvement” or ‘Poor” in the homework row is indicative of the student not turning in work. Please reinforce the importance of completing your work.

·         Tutoring: I will contact you  if your student  is to be coming to tutoring.

·         Homework will be written in the daily planner. Students turn in homework daily, so it is important that they are staying on top of their homework.  Nightly homework includes:

o   Read 20 minutes and Reading Journal- This nightly reading is critical to your students reading development. Each student has a reading journal to write in.

o   Finish Daily Math

o   Finish any other unfinished work from class- Unfinished work is to be finished as homework. 

·         Literacy: We will be focusing on the skills necessary to summarize and then will be writing summaries.

·         Math: Students are continuing to master estimation, rounding, answering word problems, and using visual models with addition and subtraction.

·         Science: Time permitting, we will begin our astronomy unit.

·         Social Studies: Third grade will finish the geography unit about reading maps, oceans, continents, major rivers, and the location of our community.

·         Writing: Students are learning to write high quality descriptive paragraphs. We continue to emphasize the writing process.

·         Character: The character trait for October is respect.

·         CALENDAR  REMINDERS:

o   October 20: Awards ceremony at 1:00 PM. Parents are encouraged  to attend. You will be contacted  if your child is to win an award.

o   October 21: Conferences. Please sign and return the conference letter.

o   October 24-31: Fall Break, no school.

·         Phone: 570-7575 ext. 3171                            E-mail: avorster@geoacademies.org

School Photos

Remember when you couldn’t wait to get your school photo?  Our students were so excited for LifeTouch to come and take their photos. They were dressed up for the special occasion.  Their parents will be thrilled to see the results.

Glee Club!!

Close to twenty Pikes Peak Prep students are taking part in this year's Glee Club! Ms. Gage will lead the club in learning songs and dance for future entertainment. So far, she likes what she sees and can't wait to see what is to come from the Glee kids!  

October Secondary Science Newsletter Information

7^th Grade: Photosynthesis

In order for all cells to live they must create energy.  For plants, that process is known as Photosynthesis which takes place in the chloroplast organelles.  In order for this process to occur, plants require 3 things: Sun, CO₂ and Water.  These compounds are then converted in to simple sugars in the form of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆).  Students will learn how this process can in turn create new cells which allow the cells to replicate and the plant to grow.

8^th Grade: Phases of the Moon

The Moon, Earth’s only satellite, plays an important part in the tides we experience each day and like all other heavenly bodies, has its own schedule to which time and events can be measured.  Students will understand the moon has a small gravitational force on the Earth that actually causes a bulging which results in high and low tides.  The will also discover the phases of the moon, the rise and set, and that the dark side of the moon is really a science misconception.

Biology: Populations

In an ecosystem, survival for any organism depends on the population in which it lives.  Students will learn that in order for a species/population to exist, there must be a careful balance in the symbiotic relationships that are present, the niches, the geographical location, and what climatic factors are present.  This also must include the natural processes such as emigration, immigration and population density. 

Chemistry: Chemical Reactions

All matter is comprised of pure elements or compounds.  In order for new compounds to form, bonds must be broken and new ones formed.  This breaking and forming change the characteristic of the matter and will now behave in a different way.  Students will learn that these reactions will happen in 6 different ways.  Students will also learn to balance chemical equations in an effort to understand the Law of Conservation of Mass.

Earth Science: Weathering and Erosion

Weathering and Erosion are natural processes which shape the earth’s surface.  Students will learn that there are 2 types of weathering: chemical and mechanical.  They will also learn that the rate at which these occur are dependent upon the climate, moisture, soil type, and precipitation.   In an effort to conserve our resources, it is necessary to examine the causes and look toward ways to prevent.

Afternoon Club- Stretching

Our younger students enjoy time with Ms. Brown, 2^nd grade teacher, stretching during their club.  These students will be very flexible in just a couple of weeks.

October Newsletter!

        History Happenings

Newsletter for October, 2012                                    Ms. Pamela Levicki                 719.570.7575   Ext. 3162

                                                                               plevicki@geoacademies.org

7^th and 8^th Grade:

We have completed our unit on Europe and are currently studying the geography, major landforms and topography, along with the different countries of Asia – as well as their capitals. The students are engaged in an awesome map project detailing the countries and capitals of Asia – they are looking great!

United States History:

We are studying the earliest European settlements in the U.S.; Roanoke, Jamestown, Plymouth, and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The students will know and understand why the Europeans wanted to come to America for reasons beyond religious persecution. We will explore the adventures and hardships of these first European settlers in America.

World History:

Our Unit on Europe was an excellent success – we researched different European countries, studied the landforms and geography of the region, located many European countries and their capitals on a variety of maps. Our research project had each student focus on a different European country, presented the information to the class, and created trivia question to use for European Jeopardy!  

Government:

We have been focusing on the importance of the Framers of the Constitution and the impact the Constitution still has on our lives and government today. Students have engaged in lively debates regarding what is and is not constitutional. Aside from the basic ideas of the Constitution, we have explored the meaning behind many of its ideals. Along with the Constitution, we have discussed the amendments, and how they have impacted our lives today.

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

Dates to Remember:

Ø  Conferences – October 21, 2010

Ø  Fall Break – NO SCHOOL – October 24-31, 2010 CLASSES RESUME TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011

French Club Enjoys Crepes

French Club became the most popular club last week when they served crepes to all its club members.  The club swelled from 20 members to 40 members for the week. The students enjoyed making their crepes and really enjoyed eating their accomplishments. Ms. Reinhart expects the club to be smaller this week since they won’t be serving any food!

Ms. Reinhardt's Kindergarten Classroom News

Pikes Peak Prep Invitational

The Lady Eagles have landed! Landed with 2 Championship Trophies in the Pikes Peak Prep Invitational Girls Volley Ball Tournament!
Hats off to Coach Johnson and Coach Alexander for coaching a STELLAR season! Grades 4-6 and 7-8.
Of course we couldn’t get there without the wonderful encouragement from our “Little Eaglets” cheerleading squad Coached by Mrs. Rhea Murphy.

Next week is the high school’s tournament GO LADY EAGLES!