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27 March 2015
Friday Facts
9659 E. Mississippi Ave.
Denver, CO 80247
720.747.2100
Main
720.747.2183
Fax
http://challengeschool.org
In This Edition:
Front Page News Letter From The Principal For Your Information… PTCO Corner Leaders Of The PACK Challenge Night Out Optimist Club Oratorical Contest Boxtops For Education Destination Imagination Exceptional Volunteer Event Governing Board/Advisory Accountability Committee Flyers Flyers Flyers Challenge Challenge Update PARCC/CMAS Assessment Update Open PTCO Leadership Positions Chipotle Flyer Engaging Boys Of Color Front Page News
Letter From The Principal
Dear Challenge Families:
Last week, we held our third P.A.C.K. assembly of the year
and celebrated “cooperating.” At Challenge, that means we are open-minded to
the perspectives of others, communicate and are willing to work collaboratively
with others, are risk takers and explore new roles and ideas, and that we respect
all adults and students. I want to thank the student leaders who plan and perform
each of these assemblies: Francesca B., Jose B., Lindsay B., Sahia B., Connor
G., Matt G., Riley G., Will G., Tessa H., and Samantha S. As I watch them work
together, I see that they are truly models for every element of the P.A.C.K.
behavior we expect.
The purpose of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
(PBIS) program in which our P.A.C.K. principles are grounded is to not only
specifically explain the positive behaviors we expect to see, but to teach them. It is
not fair to hold students accountable for behaviors we expect if they have not had
an opportunity to learn and practice. Through the same district office that supports
PBIS, I’m excited to share that we have received a grant to help support training
all of our teachers and students around mindsets. When we adopt a growth
mindset, we can become risk-takers. This is one of the hardest behaviors to teach
because it is easier said than done. This teacher and student training will help
provide the understanding and language to reduce fears that often come with
trying something new. Teacher training will begin this spring, and student training
will officially begin in the fall with every child having an opportunity to learn from
the Brainology program. Of course, as critical partners in everything we do, we will
share parent resources and develop some training for you as well. More
information will be coming soon, but in the meantime, you can visit the Mindset
Works website at http://www.mindsetworks.com. I am looking forward to many
benefits our school community will gain from this opportunity.
Respectfully,
Linda Maccagnan
Interim Principal
Challenge School Website:
challenge.cherrycreekschools.org
PTO Manager:
www.challengeschool.ptomanager.com
Submit content for newsletter by
Wed, NOON to:
FridayFacts@yahoo.com
Page 1 of 10
Friday Facts
27 March 2015
Friday Facts
For Your Information…
PTCO Corner
Check out the Flyers Section of
the Friday Facts for updates
about the Challenge Challenge!
We’re knocking on the $50,000
door! Let’s make it happen, Challenge!
Every week of the campaign seems to bring a new story
of inspiration.  Last week, I shared the story of our
Security Guard, Gary Firko. This week, an amazing story
brought to you by the wonderful students of Mrs. KellerRuscio’s Team B Class.
Soon after the Challenge began, Mrs. Keller-Ruscio
introduced her students to the campaign. Right away, her
class wanted to know if they could contribute money
themselves! How amazingly sweet! Their classroom
decided to set up a completely voluntary classroom
bucket so that the students could contribute to the
Challenge Challenge. The class voted on a minimum of
$0.50 and a maximum of $5.00, and suggested that it be
money they earned from chores and allowance (other
suggestions were birthday money ). Mrs. K-R made it
clear to the class that it wouldn’t count toward the
Classroom 100% Giving Party from the PTCO, (because
that’s their gift for grown-up donations) but she told them
that she would offer them another class a party from
herself if the students contributed at least $0.50 of their
th
own money. As of March 24 , they had $2.00. 
Again, the spirit of giving within this community continues
to amaze me, inspire me, and needless to say, bring me
to tears!
From the mouths, (and minds) of babes!
We can do ANYTHING, Challenge! ANYTHING!
Once again, that’s the heart of giving. A community
coming together for a common cause.
A spirit. A movement.
Thank you to the students of Mrs. Keller-Ruscio’s Team B
Class for being an amazing example for our community.
Have a wonderful and restful Spring Break!
With hearts prepared for giving,
Rhonda Clark and Nancy Wilson (Co-Presidents)
Tim Weber and Sunshine Morgan (Co-Vice Presidents)
Candace Ellman (Volunteer Coordinator)
Michelle Austin (Secretary)
Kimberly Chapman (Treasurer)
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Leaders Of The PACK
Achieving:
Dara Gopal – Team C
Gracie Woo – Team C
Kind:
Jayna Baker – Team B
Donavon Ruiz – Team E
Rachael Gu – Team E
Tessa Hammond – Team E
Cooperating:
Amina Mickelson – Team B
Domini Wilsea – Team B
Nick Shetler – Team B
Ben Memmott – Team B
Kanshita Dam – Team B
Cooperating and Kind:
Nick Shetler – Team B
Avalyn Martinez – Kinder
Prepared and Achieving:
Padraig Meyer – Kinder
Patrick O’Neil – Kinder
Grace Marmorstein – Kinder
Valerie Butcher – Kinder
Grace Marmorstein – Kinder
Mahlee Conlin – Kinder
Prepared and Kind:
Carter Campbell – Team C
Achieving and Cooperating:
Benjamin Cockayne – Team B
Ashlyn Gutierrez – Team B
Carly Werber – Team B
Prepared, Achieving, and Cooperating:
Julian Parker – Team B
Total “PACK”age!
Lauren Roche – Team E
Rose Beattie – Team D
Nick Manning – Team E
Ellie Johnson – Team B
Nikolas Crounse – Team C
Chakisae Barsch – Team C
McKay Larsen – Team C
27 March 2015
Friday Facts
Challenge Night Out
Destination Imagination
th
Chipotle Night Out - Wednesday April 8 3-7pm
th
Baskin Robbins -Thursday April 16 - Your teachers will
be scooping the ice cream!!!
Windsor Gardens Optimist Club Oratorical Contest
What a great showing of Challenge
School Students this past Thursday,
March 19th, at the Windsor Gardens
Optimist Club Oratorical Contest!
A great job done by all who competed !
Thanks to the following students for
representing us so very well: Reem
Saeed, Madison Manning, Audrianna
Deegan, Noah Fulton, Evelyn Bodoni,
Celine Choi, Francesco Contreras, and Edwin Bodoni.
Edwin Bodoni & Evelyn Bodoni, having won first and
second place respectively, will represent us again at the
th
next level competition held on April 9 . Thanks so much
to all who participated!
Julie L.Allen
Challenge School,Team C
Boxtops For Education
Boxtops will be collected for
the final time this year on
Friday May 8. The winning
class wins an ice cream party!
So please do submit your
boxtops to your classroom
teacher. Up till now, Mr.Beck’s class is leading with 975
boxtops with Ms. Allen’s class coming in second with 816
boxtops.
Page 3 of 10
Congratulations to Aimee
Resnick, Sinaya Joshi,
Veronica Keff, Ethan Chapman,
and Lohit Talachutla who took
6th place in the Middle School
division of the Cherry Creek Destination Imagination
Tournament. This was an awesome finish for a very
competitive challenge this year. They took 1st place for
Team Choice elements!
Way to go!
Exceptional Volunteer Event
Challenge School’s Exceptional Volunteer, Leigh Ann
th
Kingman, will be honored at the 10 Annual Wendy
DeBell Exceptional Volunteer Event on April 23, 2015. If
you would like to join us in celebrating Leigh Ann, please
register with Sherri Kononov by April 8, 2015
Governing Board/Advisory Accountability Committee
Please join us for the final Governing Board/ Advisory
Accountability Committee meeting of the year on
Tuesday, April 7, 2015 from 5:15 – 6:30pm; the meeting is
open to all members of the Challenge community. The
agenda is:
• Recommendations about the committee structure
and bylaws
• Celebrations for the year
• Voting for new chair elect and secretary
• Determining topics of next year’s meetings
During this meeting, the committee will review and vote on
new bylaws. The draft bylaws are available in the main
office for anybody to review prior to the meeting.
27 March 2015
Friday Facts
Flyers Flyers Flyers
Challenge Challenge Update
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27 March 2015
Friday Facts
Challenge Challenge Update
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27 March 2015
Friday Facts
Challenge Challenge Update
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27 March 2015
Friday Facts
PARCC/CMAS Assessment Update
Assessment Update – PLEASE SEE CHANGE IN APRIL TESTING DATES!
4/14/15
4/15/15
4/16/15
Grade
3
Grade
4
Grade
5
Social
Studies
Social
Studies
Social
Studies
Science
Science
Science
Grade
6
Grade
7
Grade
8
Social
Studies
Social
Studies
Social
Studies
Science
Science
Science
5/5/15
5/6/15
5/7/15
ELA
Math
Math
ELA
Math
5/8/15
Math
ELA
Math
Math
ELA
ELA
Math
Math
ELA
ELA
Math
Math
ELA
ELA
Math
Math
Testing Times:
Team C: 8:00-10:00
Team D: 10:00-12:00
Team E: 12:00-2:00
Parents,
Challenge School will be administering the Science and Social Studies portions of the Colorado Measures of
Academic Success (CMAS) in April.
As always, if you have questions or concerns regarding testing, please don’t hesitate to call me.
Megan Curran
720-747-2137
Page 7 of 10
27 March 2015
Friday Facts
Open PTCO Leadership Positions
Looking for ways to fill your 25 hours next year? Wishing you could take on more of a leadership role?
The following leadership positions are available for the 2015-2016 year. For many of these positions,
you can do the majority of the work from home or on your own time. If you are interested in any of
these positions or have any questions please contact Candace Ellman, Volunteer Coordinator at
c.ellman@earthlink.net.
Entertainment Books Co-Chair - work with our current chair beginning this May as he teaches you
what’s involved with preparing for this fall fundraiser, then take over as chair for the 2016-17 school
year.
8th Grade Continuation shadow – for parents of students who will be in 7th grade this fall. You would
work with the current chairs as they plan Continuation 2016 to learn what’s involved, and then plan out
Continuation 2017. Two parents needed.
Trivia Night Chair – one or two parents needed to run this fun event.
Field Day K-4 Chair - one or two parents needed to chair this fun event. Primarily involves organizing
volunteers.
Room Parent Coordinator Team A/B
Room Parent Coordinator Team C
Room Parent Coordinator Team D
Room Parent Coordinator Team E
Community Event Coordinator
Cultural Event Chair
PIN Representative
Cool Force Community Service Chair
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27 March 2015
Friday Facts
Chipotle Flyer
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27 March 2015
Friday Facts
Engaging Boys Of Color
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