On behalf of the D’Evelyn faculty, staff, and administration, please accept my very best wishes that you and your family enjoy an outstanding Spring Break. We know that D’Evelyn students work hard and dedicate a great deal of their time and effort to academic success during the school year. Breaks like the upcoming week-long Spring Break are an important time for students to relax, refresh, and have fun. Regardless of your family’s plans for the week, I hope that it a great opportunity for all D’Evelyn community members to enjoy valuable time with family and friends. We look forward to an exciting, rewarding, and enriching final eight weeks to the school year upon your return.
One notable component of our school function in April will be frequent standardized testing. This is the month that we complete our CMAS and SAT/PSAT testing. You should have received a Messenger earlier this week about our unique schedule and plans for testing. For your reference, I have included that message below this article. I would like to recognize D’Evelyn Assistant Principal Greg Kottcamp for his efforts to design an efficient testing schedule that minimizes the negative impact on instructional time in a manner that will best support our students. We are grateful for the level of support offered by D’Evelyn community members when standardized testing occurs. While we make no adjustments to our curriculum or instructional plan to sway with changing expectations in state-mandated tests, we do believe that the liberal arts education offered our students supports their ability to be successful on these upcoming tests. We ask for your partnership in encouraging your child to submit their best efforts during our testing season to demonstrate their learning and academic growth over the course of this school year. Have a great break - we look forward to seeing you in April! The April Testing Schedule Memo (Sent to all D’Evelyn families via School Messenger on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, and republished here for your convenience): On April 9th, we will have a unique schedule to allow for the testing of students in grades: 8, 9, 10, and 11. By testing all these students on the same day we minimize the impact on instruction and learning. The school day will run from 7:35 to 12:20, so buses will pick-up students as usual; however, buses to return students home will depart the school around 12:20. As it is a shortened day, lunch will not be served. Students in 7th and 12th grade will not have school as they are not being tested that day. The test that students are taking is dependent upon grade level:
8th Grade Students:
Please have students leave their cell phones, smart watches, or anything that can send or receive a transmission at home, in their car, or in their locker. If a cell phone rings during the testing, the student’s exam will be collected, and they will not be able to complete the test. Additionally, other students’ test scores may be invalidated so it is important to not bring cell phones to the testing area. Juniors taking the SAT without the Writing section will be free to quietly exit the building and go home after their testing is complete if they have their own means of transportation. For juniors that will ride the bus home, we ask that they go to the Counseling Office to wait for the 12:20 pm bus departure. CMAS Testing - April 10 - 12, April 16 - 18, April 24 We will also be conducting the required state testing for 7th and 8th grade students in English and Mathematics on April 10, 11, and 12, and the following week on April 16, 17, and 18. Lastly, Juniors will be taking the Science CMAS tests on Wednesday, April 24th. These testing days will have unique schedules but will start and end at the usual time. If you want to opt your child out of any testing, you will need to email Greg Kottcamp at [email protected] with your child’s name and which tests they are to be opted out of, by April 2nd. We appreciate your support and flexibility for these required state assessments. Please join us in extending best wishes to your student(s) for a successful testing season. We look forward to seeing the results of the great work by D’Evelyn students. If you have questions or need any clarification on the logistics of the day, please feel free to contact the D’Evelyn Main Office at 303-982-2600. Since the January Jeffco Schools Board of Education meeting, the Dennison/D’Evelyn 6th Grade Task Force received feedback with concerns about the initial proposal for transitioning 6th grade from Dennison to D’Evelyn between now and the 2021-2022 school year. As a result, the Task Force reconvened to consider the feedback, and has adjusted the proposal.
Based upon the feedback received, as well as review of data from the Fall 2018 survey, the Task Force has modified the proposal to be considered in April 2019 by the Jeffco BOE. The primary change between the two proposals is that Dennison will maintain a 6th grade program while D’Evelyn will add a 6th grade program beginning in the 2020-2021 school year. Dennison students will have a guaranteed position at D’Evelyn beginning in 7th grade because of this proposal. The proposal is linked here. There will be a community presentation regarding this proposal in the D’Evelyn Auditorium on Wednesday, March 20th, beginning at 6:00 pm. We encourage interested families from both D’Evelyn and Dennison to attend this meeting to learn more about the proposal. Thank you in advance for your continued support as both school communities work to address the changing landscape of education in Jeffco in a manner that best supports the students of Dennison and D’Evelyn. I am thrilled to share with the D’Evelyn community the news that my wife Fran and I welcomed our second daughter, Avery Margot Griffin, on Thursday, February 28th. Fran and Avery are both healthy and doing great, and our older daughter Josephine has shown a real affinity for her baby sister. I was fortunate to be able to spend a few days at home with my family as Fran and I acclimate to the household size increase from three to four. During this exciting time for our family, I feel particularly grateful to serve as D’Evelyn principal, leading such a thoughtful and caring community. Fran and I appreciate all the love, support, and well wishes we have received, and continue to receive, from members of the D’Evelyn family, far and wide. The final weeks of the semester are always busy and exciting times at D’Evelyn. I have a few timely updates to share with the D’Evelyn community at this time.
New Student Welcome Night for students enrolling at D’Evelyn for the 2019-2020 school year was last week and it was a great success. We welcomed approximately 200 members of the Class of 2025, as well as several members for the Classes of 2023 and 2024. Thank you to all the students, teachers, coaches, sponsors, and parents who attended this important community event to welcome our newest students and families to D’Evelyn. I believe wholeheartedly in the strength and power of the D’Evelyn liberal arts educational program, and it was uplifting to welcome so many enthusiastic new students and families last night. Jeffco Schools 2-Hour Weather Delay Protocol - the school district has developed and is ready to implement a 2-hour weather delay protocol in the event of future inclement weather that necessitates such a delay. The district will continue to use existing methods of communication - district website, Jeffco Connect, and various news media outlets - to share updates on school delays or cancellations. This new 2-hour delay protocol, when used, would apply to D’Evelyn, and our school is impacted in the following ways:
Between now and Spring Break, there are many opportunities to support D’Evelyn student-athletes and performers. To find events to attend, please visit our school sports calendar and school calendar (for concerts and performances). Thank you for your continued support of D’Evelyn students. It is a privilege to serve as principal of this great school! |
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