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By Mr. Josh Griffin, Principal
Due to the vast generosity and wonderful giving spirit of D’Evelyn community members, the D’Evelyn Education Foundation and D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School are fortunate to have received over $50,000 in contributions dedicated to the renovation of the Main Gym. We now have sufficient funding in place to redesign and resurface the gym floor, install new scoreboards, add new custom Jaguar pads underneath the baskets, replace the competitive game baskets, and purchase new game chairs. The D’Evelyn administration is committed to ensuring that these projects are completed prior to the start of the 2019-2020 academic year. Additionally, because of the successful 5B bond measure in the November 2018 election, Jeffco Schools has graciously offered utilize funds to support our gym renovation effort by installing new bleachers in the Main Gymnasium. The district has committed the funds necessary to complete this entire bleacher installation project. The only caveat is that the installation will take place in August 2020. Because the expense for the bleachers is likely to exceed $75,000, the D’Evelyn Education Foundation Board of Directors has agreed that it is the best course of action to accept this contribution, despite the one-year delay in installation. We have also received support for this slight change to the timeline from the varsity head coaches of the three programs that utilize the gym most - girls volleyball, boys’ basketball, and girl’s basketball. On behalf of the DEF Board of Directors, I extend my humble and sincere thanks to all community members that have contributed to this fundraising effort. The results of this campaign have been astounding, and a wonderful reflection of the dedication and support offered by the D’Evelyn community. The Board is so encouraged by the level of support received for this campaign that we will be working in collaboration with school community members to identify additional future capital projects that will support D’Evelyn students. Please stay tuned for future opportunities to support D’Evelyn students through the efforts of the DEF.
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The course selection process is now fully underway for D’Evelyn students in 2019-2020. This week, students in grades 7 - 11 attended a presentation by their counselor about course selection during their Social Studies classes. The deadline for submission of schedule requests for the 2019-2020 school year is February 14th. To meet this deadline, students must submit course requests through the Campus Portal and bring in a signed copy of the schedule request print-out to their 3rd period teacher. The form requires signatures from student, parent, and math teacher.
I encourage all families to work with their child(ren) to ensure a thoughtful, logical course request process. While elective offerings and elective sections are limited due to the nature and structure of the D’Evelyn program, the individual choices for those elective classes carry great significance. On a basic level, it is essential that D’Evelyn students consider the junior high and senior high course requirements needed for either continuation or graduation. However, I encourage all students in collaboration with their families to thoughtfully consider additional elements throughout the course selection process. As an important resource in this process, the 2019-2020 Course Planning Guide is available on the D’Evelyn website, and at this link. I encourage students to choose classes in their areas of interest. Given the limited opportunities for electives within the D’Evelyn program, it is particularly important for all students to pursue their passions and interests in available elective courses. Whether the elective falls in one of the traditional academic areas, foreign language, or art, music, PE, or computers, please encourage your student to pursue their interests with their electives. This is particularly important when selecting AP classes, as students tend to find more success and satisfaction in advanced level courses that align with their interests. For those students that have begun college and career planning, it is also wise to align junior/senior high school courses with those goals. I encourage students to seek balance. The D’Evelyn Program was designed to be rigorous and challenge students with high expectations. This design was established prior to the inclusion of Advanced Placement courses in the D’Evelyn curriculum. AP coursework has many benefits for students, including the opportunity to enhance their college resume and earn some credit towards college graduation. However, it is important for students to request these advanced courses thoughtfully. The workload in an AP course is notably higher than in most non-AP courses, and the expectations and intensity of the AP courses are generally heightened. Students should seek to find balance in their academic course load in a manner that allows them to thrive in all areas of their lives for the next school year. I encourage students to attend AP information meetings and seek clarification from teachers about the nature and workload of advanced classes. Each department offers information meetings for their AP classes. It is important for students considering an AP class that they attend informational meetings about the class prior to requesting enrollment. They may also benefit from touching base with the AP teacher to gather additional information. I encourage students to partner with their counselors for additional support in the selection process. The outstanding D’Evelyn counseling team is very knowledgeable about the courses offered at D’Evelyn. They offered students thoughtful, informative presentations in a whole-group setting this week but are also available to meet with students to brainstorm individually. Students that would like to discuss their course selection process can set up an appointment with their counselor to gain additional insight and support in the process. The D’Evelyn academic program is well-designed to prepare students for a successful life. With thoughtful consideration given to course selection, students can adjust their academic experience to better suit their personal needs, interests, and passions. I hope that families will have an opportunity to work with their children in the process of developing a good plan for course selection for the 2019-2020 school year. If you would like to review the presentations students received in class this week, please visit this website. This section was sent to families via School Messenger earlier this week. I offer it again here in Jaguar Tracks to connect with families that could be impacted.
This is an important update for D’Evelyn families who also have current 5th grade students enrolled in other schools. For the 2019-2020 school year only, the younger siblings of current D’Evelyn students will have priority in the Dennison lottery for 6th grade. The priority for these students will be second, after only families that have at least one sibling currently attending Dennison Elementary. For D’Evelyn families looking at options for sixth grade next year, we encourage you to consider the option of entering the lottery for Dennison Elementary if your family and your student share an appreciation for the philosophy and educational model at Dennison. This priority does not guarantee a place at Dennison, rather, it simply increases the likelihood of a space being available for your current 5th grade student. All enrollment / lottery application steps for Dennison will be completed using the EnrollJeffco system, and the deadline for the first round of choice enrollment if February 8th. If you have any questions, please contact D’Evelyn registrar Sue Brown at 303-982-7925.  We have one final Prospective Student Information Night scheduled for Thursday, January 31st, at 7 PM in the D’Evelyn Auditorium. Families are required to attend one Information Night prior to their student attending D’Evelyn. I ask for your help and support in spreading the word about our final Information Night for this school year to friends, families, and acquaintances that may be interested in learning more about the outstanding D’Evelyn liberal arts program.
During this presentation, I will speak about the school philosophy, curriculum, operational details, and student experience in our 7 - 12 program. D’Evelyn admits students through a lottery process for grades 7, 8, and 9. We look forward to having a robust pool of families interested in our school and thank you for sharing this important information with interested families in our community.  During the week of January 28th, D’Evelyn students in grades 7 - 11 will attend course selection presentations by the members of the Counseling Department. The purpose of these presentations is to provide students an ample understanding of their course selection options for the 2019-2020 school year.
As a relatively small school serving students in grades 7 - 12, the scheduling process at D’Evelyn is complex and features inherent limitations. As a result, it is important that students, in collaboration with families, make thoughtful, intentional course requests during our course selection process. Because of our scheduling limitations, schedule change requests are nearly impossible to make once we return in the fall. Additionally, we particularly encourage students to be thoughtful about the number of advanced level coursework they choose to take, as we frequently see students enrolled in multiple AP classes experience a high volume of rigorous, challenging, and frequent homework. Students should attend AP information meetings in the upcoming weeks to learn more about the content, expectations, and workload in D’Evelyn AP classes. Thank you for your support during the course selection process. It is important for our students to make thoughtful selections in their course requests, as it is one critical component to ensuring a successful academic year in 2019-2020.  I hope that you and your family have enjoyed a restful three-day Martin Luther King Day weekend. The second semester is off to a fast start, and I am sure that the extra day of rest will be valued by our students, faculty, staff, and families.
Tuesday, January 22nd is an important day in the enrollment timeline for the 2019-2020 school year. On this day, the Enroll Now function of EnrollJeffco (enrolljeffco.org) will go live. This allows families to enter the EnrollJeffco system to select schools for next school year. We ask that D’Evelyn families with current students enter the system to make selections for next year. However, it is especially important that all families with students interested in attending D’Evelyn next year for the first time in grades 7, 8, or 9, enter the system and submit their child’s name for potential enrollment. This includes families with students in all priority groups, including students finishing sixth grade at Dennison Elementary and students with older siblings already attending D’Evelyn. The deadline for completing your enrollment declarations and requests in EnrollJeffco is Friday, February 8th. After that day, D’Evelyn will not be able to add any students to their lottery for the first round of choice enrollment. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Welcome back! I hope that you and your family enjoyed the Winter Break and a very happy holiday season. I am excited to begin 2019 and lead the D’Evelyn community through an outstanding 2nd semester of the school year. It is always refreshing for me personally to welcome back students after an extended break, as I have the opportunity to renew my work amongst the most important people in our D’Evelyn community. The semester is off to a great start both inside and outside of the classroom, and I know that many more momentous occasions, experiences, and accomplishments lay ahead.
January and February bring us into a very important window for students and families as the enrollment process of the 2019-2020 school year will begin in earnest. This year, Jeffco Schools is transitioning to a new enrollment system, entitled EnrollJeffco, accessible at enrolljeffco.org. Because of the transition to EnrollJeffco, it is critical that all D’Evelyn families read and review the forthcoming updates. EnrollJeffco Update: All families need to use this system to let us know where your student(s) will go to school next school year. EnrollJeffco is a user-friendly way for families learn about and enroll in Jeffco Schools. This new process will create an organized method for school enrollment, and it will help families and schools plan ahead. Here is a brief overview: EnrollJeffco has two buttons – · School Finder provides information about all 155 neighborhood, option, and charter schools in the district · Enroll Now accesses the system all families will use to indicate where they intend to go to school next school year All families with students that plan to attend a Jeffco Public School during the 2019-20 school year will need to go to www.EnrollJeffco.org between Jan. 22 – Feb. 8 to indicate if they will: · Return to the same school in 2019-20 · Attend their neighborhood school in 2019-20 or · Apply to attend a different neighborhood school, option school, or charter school for 2019-20 As an option school, D’Evelyn is uniquely impacted by the EnrollJeffco system. Our students are enrolled in a 100% choice process. We ask all D’Evelyn families to ensure that they have entered younger 6th grade siblings in the D’Evelyn lottery by way of EnrollJeffco between January 22 and February 8th. Additionally, please share these expectations with friends and community members you know with interest in D’Evelyn for their children who do not currently attend our school. The D’Evelyn enrollment priority system remains the same as in previous year; however, it is essential that all students seeking enrollment for 2019-2020 are entered into our lottery system by way of EnrollJeffco. If your current D’Evelyn student will be returning to D’Evelyn in 2019-2020, as soon as you indicate your intentions, you are done until registration in July/August. If your student is applying to attend D’Evelyn, enrollment offers will be sent to families in late February along with instructions on next steps. To access EnrollJeffco, you must have a Jeffco Connect account. I encourage you update your Jeffco Connect account, prior to January 22, and then take a few minutes to check out www.EnrollJeffco.org for details. To tell prospective families about our great school, we will be hosting our final Prospective Student Information Night on January 31st at 7 pm in the D’Evelyn Auditorium. Any family interested in the potential for D’Evelyn enrollment for their student(s) must attend one of these events, and this will be the last Information Night for the 2019-2020 school year. Thank you for sharing this important information with interested families. If you have questions regarding EnrollJeffco after reading this article and reviewing the website materials at enrolljeffco.org, please contact D’Evelyn registrar Sue Brown or D’Evelyn principal secretary Jan Skelton. |
AuthorJosh Griffin, Principal Archives
December 2018
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