The 2017-2018 school year is off to a great start. Thanks to students, parents, faculty, and staff for all your efforts in a successful rollout to start the new year. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the members of the D’Evelyn Class of 2018 and 2019 for their excellent work in April 2017 on the SAT and PSAT tests. The Class of 2018 earned an average SAT score of 1306.9 in the April statewide test administration. This score earned these students the highest average of any public school in Colorado! The next highest school, Liberty Common Charter School in Fort Collins, earned an average score of 1250.1. The Class of 2019 earned an average PSAT score of 1182.6 in the April statewide test administration. This score earned these students the highest average of any public, non-charter school in Colorado, and the second highest average score among all public schools in the state. Liberty Common Charter School earned the highest average score at 1192.4. The 2016-2017 school year was the first year of the SAT/PSAT administration for all 10th and 11th grade students. Prior to 2016-2017, all juniors in Colorado completed the ACT. For 16 consecutive years, D’Evelyn juniors earned the highest average ACT score among all public, non-charter schools in Colorado.
The D’Evelyn faculty, staff, and administration is committed to delivering the highest quality education in the liberal arts model outlined in the D’Evelyn Program Document. We believe that student mastery of an essential body of cultural knowledge is necessary in order that our students may effectively participate in their communities. High student performance on nationally-normed standardized tests is a tribute to the quality of the program and the great work of our students and teachers year after year. Congratulations to all members of the Classes of 2018 and 2019 for their great performance on these exams. Best wishes on a wonderful 2017-2018 school year! I closed the 2016-2017 school year with a Jaguar Tracks article where I referred to key pillars of the D’Evelyn Program Founding Document. As I embark on this new year in the role of principal, I will start just where I left off in May.
The David S. D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School Program Philosophy Statement states, “[The D’Evelyn Program] is based on the belief that all students, not just an elite group, should be held to rigorous academic and behavioral standards, and that all students can achieve in a challenging environment.” The document goes on to say, “A mastery of the skills and knowledge acquired through the study of the basic academic subjects is the foundation for all subsequent learning, regardless of the student’s future pursuits.” These opening remarks of the Program Document inform and inspire me. I hope that they do the same for all members of our D’Evelyn community. In my time as D’Evelyn principal, it is my commitment to ensure that these promises set forth by the D’Evelyn Founders are delivered in practice not only today, but for many years to come. I am honored and humbled in filling the interim principal position, as the responsibility for maintaining the great vision outlined in the Founding Document is immense. Nonetheless, I feel uniquely qualified to fill the position. Since November 2003, I have filled an array of roles and positions at D’Evelyn, including the following:
Please join us for two important upcoming school community events, where you can learn more not only about the school, but also about my vision and goals for ensuring that D’Evelyn continues to offer a rich, liberal arts 7-12 academic program with high expectations for all students.
Thank you for your strong, continued support of the D’Evelyn program as we begin the 2017-2018 school year. Please join me in warmly welcoming the new members of the D’Evelyn faculty & staff for the 2017-2018 school year. -- Jennifer Ford, English, Miss Ford will be teaching both 7th and 8th grade English. She recently relocated to the Denver area and is very excited to begin teaching at D’Evelyn. Miss Ford has experience working with students in elementary, junior high, senior high levels and specifically four years of junior high school English teaching experience. -- Steve Falconi, English, Mr. Falconi will teach 9th grade Literature & Composition, as well as 12th grade Classic Literature. He joins us after 1 ½ years as an English teacher at Ralston Valley High School. Mr. Falconi is also a familiar face in the D’Evelyn community, having completed his student teaching at D’Evelyn in the fall of 2015. -- Brennan Gause, History, Mr. Gause will teach 7th grade Geography and 8th grade US History. He joins the D’Evelyn faculty after eight years as a junior high social studies teacher in other schools, including the past six years at Murphy Creek Pre-8 in Aurora. -- Wendy Leach-Flusche, SPED Learning Specialist, Mrs. Flusche will provide support services and instruction for students with Individual Education Plans this school year; additionally, she will work to develop a Literacy and Study Skills class that will be offered in the future for junior high school students struggling with the core academic classes. -- Sarah Newcomb, Life Science, Mrs. Newcomb joins the D’Evelyn faculty after one year of teaching Biology at Columbine High School and another year teaching Biology and Earth Science at Arvada West High School. She is excited to fill one of our Life Science positions, our 7th grade science course. -- Sarah Porter, Spanish, Ms. Porter was hired to teach Spanish 2 in late July. She will not need directions to the school, as she is a proud graduate of the D’Evelyn class of 2013. Ms. Porter has also worked with both junior and senior high school students in the D’Evelyn cross country and track programs. -- Chris Powers, Science, Mr. Powers joins the D’Evelyn faculty after 10 years teaching Chemistry and Biology at Faith Christian Academy and previous experience at Christian Fellowship School. He is excited to begin teaching 8th grade Physical Science and 10th grade Chemistry to the D’Evelyn scientists. -- Deb Pruit, Math, Mrs. Pruit is also a familiar face around D’Evelyn, having taught math for all the 2015-2016 school year, and part of the 2016-2017 school year. She now has been hired as a full-time member of the math faculty; she will teach Algebra 2/Geometry and Pre-Algebra this year. -- Jon Watson, High School Counselor, A – K. We are very excited to add Mr. Watson to our outstanding Counseling Department here at D’Evelyn. Mr. Watson recently completed his graduate work in school counseling and finished his year of clinical practice at Bear Creek High School during the 2016-2017 school year. Welcome to our new administration & office staff members: -- Michelle Castillo, Health Aide, Mrs. Castillo was hired in the spring of 2017. Mrs. Castillo serves as the D’Evelyn clinic aide, so she will work with students to ensure that all their health needs are met throughout the school day. Students needing medical attention or access to their prescribed medications and parents with health-related questions or needs for their students should work with Mrs. Castillo in the clinic, in the northwest corner of the Main Office. -- Guila Chavez, Front Office & Copy Room, Mrs. Chavez is the newest member of the D’Evelyn faculty and staff. Guila is familiar with our school and community, as her daughter is a current D’Evelyn student. She will fulfill various responsibilities in the Main Office on behalf of students, parents, faculty, and staff. Primary among those responsibilities, Mrs. Chavez will frequently check in visitors to the Main Office through our secure front door entry and using the Raptor system. -- Joel Jacobson, Instructional Coach, Mr. Jacobson is a familiar face at D’Evelyn, having taught for 11 years in the English department. Mr. Jacobson and I were hired to teach at D’Evelyn in the same year, and I have enjoyed working with him as a teaching colleague and now as an administrator. This year, Mr. Jacobson will teach Yearbook and Creative Writing, while also filling the role of Instructional Coach, where he will work collaboratively with D’Evelyn faculty and administration in the pursuit of the school’s UIP goals. -- Greg Kottcamp, Assistant Principal, Mr. Kottcamp is in his first year as an Assistant Principal and will fill that role here at D’Evelyn. After teaching Social Studies for five years at Evergreen Middle School, and 13 years at Golden High School, we are fortunate to have Mr. Kottcamp as a leader here at D’Evelyn. For any members of the D’Evelyn community hoping to engage in rich discussion of the greatness of athletics at the University of Wyoming, Mr. Kottcamp is your guy! D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School follows a rigorous hiring process, where candidates are asked to demonstrate their understanding of the D’Evelyn Program philosophy as well as their commitment to the success of D’Evelyn students in a variety of ways. Each of these new faculty & staff members triumphed in the interview process, and we are very grateful for their interest and desire to serve the D’Evelyn community. Finally, I would like to recognize and thank those members of the D’Evelyn faculty and staff that have moved on after the conclusion of the 2016-2017 school year. Thank you for your commitment to the D’Evelyn Program and our students, and best of luck with your future pursuits. -- John Cappello, Life Science -- Karen Duran, SPED Learning Specialist -- Lucas Finney, History -- Jan Johnson, Physical Science -- Emily Lindsey, Math -- Lisa Lord, Front Office & Copy Room -- Rebecca Lynch, Clinic Aide -- Kristi Monsour, High School Counselor -- Jessica Proett, Spanish -- Karissa Underwood, English |
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