By Ralph K. Spencer, D'Evelyn Education Foundation Board of Directors On January 9, 2020, I had the distinct pleasure, at the request of the Counseling Office, to meet with D'Evelyn seniors in the cafeteria to discuss the topic of free money, otherwise known as Scholarships and Awards. Since that meeting, I am very proud to report that the total of this year's scholarships and awards has increased by $900 thanks to the generosity of two D'Evelyn supporters. The Lynne M. Murphy Performing Arts Scholarship has been increased from $1,000 to $1,500. The Dr. Peter Silvaggio Physics Scholarship has been increased from $600 to $1,000, which can be split 50-50 between two applicants, if necessary. Therefore, for the first time in D'Evelyn history, the total of senior scholarships and awards available in any given year will break the $25,000 barrier, or to be specific, $25,250!!! This total will be awarded to D'Evelyn seniors at the May 13 Senior Banquet - to be held at none other than Empower Field, home of the Denver Broncos! The following bullets highlight my comments to the seniors and also include some additional information that I was not able to discuss given the time constraints of this meeting.
I will be writing additional articles on the topic of D'Evelyn scholarships and awards in future editions of the Jaguar Tracks. I hope you will take a few minutes to learn more about this incredibly rewarding program. If you have specific questions, please direct them to me at 303-979-9175, Ms. Hays, or Ms. McSwain. Free money, as everyone knows, is hard to come by in this world. With that in mind, the best of luck to every D'Evelyn senior who decides to take the scholarship plunge!!! By Dan Wille We are excited to announce that NASA Astronaut and D’Evelyn alumnus Matthew Dominick will be visiting the school on January 24th! Astronaut Dominick is Class of 2000 D’Evelyn graduate and we are honored to have him return to share his experiences of becoming a NASA astronaut. To learn more about Astronaut Dominick, please click HERE. On January 24th, we will hold a special event starting at 6:00 pm in the D’Evelyn auditorium where Astronaut Dominick will present on his experiences along with holding a Q&A session, followed by a meet-and-greet. Students and families will have the opportunity to get autographs and take pictures with Astronaut Dominick. All D’Evelyn community members are welcome to attend. Please contact Assistant Principal Dan Wille with any questions: [email protected]. By Briant McKellips “If I have seen further than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants” - Isaac Newton As prescribed in the D’Evelyn Document by the Founders of our school, the D’Evelyn science program is “content based”—the teacher conveys an essential body of knowledge through various means though primarily by teacher-directed, whole-group instruction that is supplemented with hands-on, “guided inquiry” oriented lab activities. This survey approach is different than increasingly common “open inquiry” secondary programs which attempt to teach critical thinking without what the Founders considered to be sufficient emphasis on the content. Inquiry is fostered in our program but is strategically guided and scaffolded as our students progress through the program. The Founding Document also states, “Science and the scientific method are essential for understanding our world and [our] place in it.” And it charges us to foster an “awareness of the nature and limitations of science, as well as its relationship to, and dependence on, other academic disciplines…” All D’Evelyn science courses emphasize the scientific method, philosophy of science, problem solving skills, graphing and graphical interpretation, critical thinking, drawing appropriate conclusions, laboratory process skills, and procedural safety. As indicated in the D’Evelyn Document, the Founders held that biology, chemistry, and physics are the “three pillars” of science and should comprise core of the science curriculum at D’Evelyn. All of our high school level students are required to take and successfully complete the three pillar courses for graduation. Biology, chemistry, and physics are grade level college preparatory courses that emphasize all of the traditional elements found in such survey courses. Biology is taken in the ninth grade and, for students at grade level in math, chemistry is taken in the tenth grade and physics in the eleventh grade. Our junior high classes are designed to prepare students for these pillar courses via a carefully designed scaffolding of content that introduces the main topics of biology in the life science course and the main topics of chemistry and physics in the physical science course. Seventh grade life science especially emphasizes vocabulary and cell function to familiarize students with the language and basic content of biology. Physical science is also designed to be a foundation building course preparing eighth graders for both chemistry and physics in high school as well as addressing the state earth science standards (the earth science standard emphasis would shift from eighth grade to the sixth grade curriculum over time as the Dennison sixth grade moves to D’Evelyn). We also offer robust Advanced Placement elective science coursework at D’Evelyn. Advanced Placement courses give students the opportunity to explore the material at a much deeper college level and potentially earn college credit. AP Chemistry may be taken by advanced sophomores instead of the regular chemistry course; otherwise, it may be taken as an elective junior or senior year. AP Biology may be taken as an elective during junior year (concurrently with the standard survey physics course) or during senior year (concurrently with another AP science course if desired). AP Physics is the calculus-based Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism course that is required for engineering, physics, and other science majors in college; only seniors may take this elective and only after having taken the standard survey physics course as juniors. All three disciplines have historical pass rates on the AP Exams above 85%. The Science Department loves working with our kids and loves teaching them to become citizens who understand nature, our relationship to it, and our place in this world. It is also our great pleasure to teach and train them to be thoroughly prepared to pursue more science coursework in college should they choose to do so. We have received significant feedback over the years from former students who report that science is “easy” in college, including from many who might not have offered that same assessment while still in high school. The Junior High Student Council hosted a money drive for the Foothills Animal Shelter in December. Our D’Evelyn Jags raised an outstanding amount, with the total over $1,100. Mrs. Newcomb’s class raised over $300 which earned them a donut party. This insane amount of money will provide much needed help to the Animal Shelter. The Junior High Student Council is extremely proud and happy to make a difference in the community. We can’t wait to help do it again in the future. Thanks for all your support! |
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