Douglas County Today

Douglas County School District

Visit www.dcsdk12.org/today to read full stories about the topics in Today

Douglas County School District

Choice • ExcellenceInnovation • Effi ciency

MARCH | APRIL 2013Volume 1, Issue 3

Rocky Heights Middle-Schooler by day, Business Entrepreneur after hours

Seventh-grader LylaPadden has whippedup a “sweet” business,Flour Gal Cupcakes,and in the processhas captured bothlocal and nationalattention.

PAGE 6

Rocky Heights Middle-

Student Entrepreneur Named

“Future Star” by NBC Today

Amount of property tax savings for Douglas County taxpayers

generated by the school district’s general obligation

bond re� nancing.

PAGE 3

DCSD Pre-MedicalClass Applications

due April 30PAGE 4

Save the Date!Yong Zhau visits DCSD

April 30 – May 1

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I am not a number in a sea of faces... I feel at home.

“Connect”

adams.edu

Adams State University

Douglas County School District | (303) 387-01002

Finals, Exams, Assessments...

Finish Strong!Whether it’s a Chemistry final, the ACT/SAT or those

dreaded state assessments, the end of the school year seems to be punctuated with testing. It’s not too late to make a real

difference in your student’s grades this year!

Don’t let spring fever get the best of your student’s grades! Contact us today to learn how our One-on-One Tutoring

services can help guide them to a strong finish.

303.317.3171 collegenanniesandtutors.com/parkerco

Don’t delay - book your summer nanny

today - call for Summer Specials!

DCSD Newsroom Visit the DCSD newsroom at www.dcsdk12.org/communityrelations/newsroom.

DCSD Mobile AppThe DCSD app provides news, sports scores, lunch menus, calendar information and much, much more. Find it in the iTunes and Droid stores.

NewslineNewsline features stories and important announcements about students, staff, and great events. www.dcsdk12.org/communityrelations/newsline.

Traditions (Front Page Videos)On the front page of the website, visit the collection of videos highlighting DCSD’s best stories representing Excellence, Innovation, Efficiency or Safety.

Let’s Talk Education Radio ShowSuperintendent Dr. Elizabeth Fagen hosts a weekly radio show that focuses on the achievements and work of the Douglas County School District every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. on CastleRockRadio.com.

Channel 54: DougTVComcast Channel 54 , also known as DougTV. DougTV exclusively features DCSD programming, including video versions of Let’s Talk Education, sports events, and more.

Week In ReviewWeek in Review highlights the most interesting and fun DCSD events. On Facebook and You Tube, you can also find previous episodes on the DCSD website: www.dcsdk12.org/communityrelations/weekinreview.

DCSD on You TubeView the growing collection of DCSD videos on www.youtube.com/user/DougCoSchools/featured.

Telephone TownhallsJoin DCSD leaders for regular Telephone Townhall events: www.dcsdk12.org/communityrelations/telephonetownhall.

Board BriefingBoard Briefings provide a recap of Board meetings, a summary of action items, recognitions, and audio: www.dcsdk12.org/boardofeducation/boardbriefing.

FacebookFollow DCSD on www.facebook.com/dcsdk12.

Twitter Follow DCSD on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dcsdk12.

Keeping in-the-know withDCSD has never been easier…

DCSD Mobile AppFree! Download from iTunes or Droid stores… Sponsored by Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children/HealthONE. Provides alerts, news, calendar info, lunch menu, directory, sports, and special events.

DCSD Newsroom Our online source for all District news.http://bit.ly/dcsdnewsroom Newsline Sign up today! Weekly DCSD newsletter delivers stories, announcements and events to your inbox.http://bit.ly/dcsdnews

Let’s Talk Education: CastleRockRadio.comHosted by DCSD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Fagen; Wednesdays at 3 p.m. http://bit.ly/letstalkeducation

“DougTV” Comcast Channel 54DCSD Videos featuring student achievement, general news, and District programs. http://bit.ly/dcsdYouTube

Telephone TownhallsInformative format allows DCSD leaders and participants to interact from the comfort of home regarding educational issues of interest http://bit.ly/dcsdTownHall

Friend Us facebook.com/dcsdk12

Twittertwitter.com/dcsdk12

Call for class dates and locations or visit admhn.org, click on Education

303 779 9676admhn.org

Punch stigma in the nose.Mental health is not just about illness.

It’s also about being well and well-informed.Sign up for a class today.

• Mental Health First Aid• Parenting the Strong-Willed Child• Parenting Foster & Adopted Children• Becoming a Love & Logic Parent

March | April 2013 Volume 1, Issue 3

A free publication for parents and residents of Douglas County, ‘Today’ is published in partnership with Colorado Community Media. Douglas County School District staff provides the articles, photos and graphics in an effort to keep the community informed with news about Douglas County Schools. Citizen comments about the publication are welcome. Colorado Community Media provides layout, sells advertisements, prints and distributes the publication at no cost to the school district.

DCSD Community Relations Cinamon Watson, Randy Barber Editor/Art Director Janelle Jones Contributing Writers Linda Ross, Susan PaulsenCCM Design/Layout Scott Andrews Advertising/Sales Jennie Herbert, (303) 566-4100, jherbert@ourcoloradonews.com

ColoradoCommunityMedia.comOurColoradoNews.com

dcsdk12.org

3-Color

Grand Master

Han W. Lee2 Times Olympian2000 US Olympic Coach

Choice | Excellence | Innovation | Efficiency 3

Douglas County SchoolsCFO Delivers Good News: More money to schools, employee raises,fewer fees for parents, lower property taxes

During a recent Douglas County School District (DCSD) Board of Education meeting, Chief Financial Officer Bonnie Betz delivered information all with a heart for education long to hear. The jubilant CFO’s message was simple and sweet: MORE money to schools; employee raises and the elimination of the technology fee for parents.

“The bottom line is the school district is in great financial shape,” said Betz.

Although the state legislature will not finalize the school finance act until later this spring, DCSD is in a position to make the following commitment for the start of FY 2014:

Depending on results of the current state legisla-tive session, DCSD may be able to increase dollars to schools and compensation to employees to an even greater extent.

Due to solid financial leadership, DCSD managed to increase classroom spending for the second year in a row, by $2.2 million last year alone.

“Our goal is always to get as many dollars as we can to our schools and our staff. And we’ve done those things – over the past two years the percentage of dol-lars going directly to the classroom has increased,” said Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen.

The district employs “site-based budgeting” to em-power school administrators to make budget decisions based on the best interests of their students.

“When we got the extra money back in, we were able to add staff and bring back a class called freshman suc-cess,” said Legend High School Principal Corey Wise, referencing a funding allocation made to schools in the fall after the county experienced better than expected property tax revenues.

In addition to more dollars being allocated to each school, the reduction in fees and an employee pay in-crease, taxpayers have even more reason to celebrate.

“We are excited to provide our taxpayers with over $1.7 million in property tax bill savings. This savings, generated by [general obligation] bond refinancing, goes entirely to the taxpayer and no proceeds go to the District,” said Betz.

“Our goal is always to get as

many dollarsas we can to our schools… over

the last two years dollars going directly to the classroom has

increased.” — Superintendent

Elizabeth Fagen

Cati Karr and MacKenna Green show-off cash raised by Coyote Creek Elementary’s Video Club to benefit east coast storm victims.

• SchoolBudgetshavebeendistributedtoprincipalsacrosstheDistrictwhichincludeanadditional$200perstudent.

• DCSDwilleliminatethe$25perstudenttechnologyfee.

• AllDCSDemployeeswillreceivea2%averagepayincreaseandtheDistrictwillabsorbtheincreasedcostsofmedicalbenefitsandPERA.

• $1.7MillionPropertyTaxSavingsforTaxpayers.

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Douglas County School District | (303) 387-01006

Visit your local Sprint stores

Sprint Store Parker18260 E Lincoln Ave Suite 107(303) 841-6644

Mon-Fri 10am-8pm / Sat 10am-7pmSun 11am-5pm

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*Offer valid only at listed locations. Subject to new two-year agreement. Free case and car charger valid only on newtwo-year activations only. iPads and Tablets excluded from this offer. Offer subject to change without notice and maynot be combined with any other offer. No cash value. Other terms and conditions may apply. Please contact locationfor more information.

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Cover Story:

Sweet Entrepreneur Earns NBC Call-out

Three years ago Lyla Padden, then 10, was inspired to start her own business after visiting Young Ameri-Towne, a hands-on experience in free enterprise for elementary students. A little prompting from her fi fth-grade teacher and with some help from crowd-source investors at FirstFunder.com, and Lyla was able to bring her cupcakes to the public.

“She still plays sports, still has friends, and still goes to the mall. She is a normal kid, who happens to own a business,” said her mom Monica Padden.

Lyla’s vision, hard work and delectable baking have led to business growth and winning the 2012 Colorado Young Entrepreneurs Award (Young Americans Center for Financial Education), the 2012 Rockies Venture Club Colorado Capital Conference Youth Entrepreneurship Award and the 2012 Million Dollar Butterfl ies Top En-trepreneur Award.

Recently, NBC’s Today Show named Lyla to their select list of “Today’s Future Stars of Tomorrow.” She, along with four other impressive youth are to appear live with Al Roker. Her hero is of course, Buddy Valastro.

“I’m super excited,” Lyla said. “It was always my dream to make cupcakes for other people.”

She knows national exposure could mean orders from across the country. “I’m trying to fi gure out how to ship the cupcakes so when they’re received they still look good,” Lyla said.

Lyla aspires to move her operation to a commercial kitchen, expand production, open her own store and attend Princeton following high school graduation.

To place an order, visit http://www.fl ourgal.com/

To support this young entrepreneur, visit www.fi rst-funder.com.

“I’m trying to fi gure out how

to ship the cupcakes so when they’re received they

still look good.” — Lyla Padden

Save the Date!Yong Zhau visits DCSD

April 30 – May 1

7-Color

arapahoe.edu

CALL US TODAY for information about Concurrent Enrollment classes available through your high school. Contact Virginia Rodriguez at 303.797.5085 or Mary Madigan 303.797.5645 or visit arapahoe.edu/dcsg.

Parents – Challenge your Child! Arapahoe Commu-nity College offers Concurrent Enrollment classes at your local high school. These classes follow the same curriculum taught at colleges, and your student never has to leave their high school. Your student gains: • College credits at no cost • Take ACC courses that transfer to other

Colorado colleges and universities • Can earn both high school and college

credit at the same time • College level learning in a familiar setting

with teachers they know

IN HIGH SCHOOLEARN COLLEGE CREDIT

7

Student artwork unveiled at Sheriff’s substation

Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver and County Commissioner Roger Partridge recently unveiled a new art gallery featuring artwork created by students repre-senting nearly every Douglas County school.

The new gallery is located in a hallway at the Doug-las County Sheriff’s Office substation located near Broadway and Highlands Ranch Parkway. More than 100 community members, including students, fami-lies, teachers and principals attended the recent grand opening ceremony to view and celebrate the exhibit.

The gallery of artwork was created in recognition of Douglas County’s 150th anniversary. More than 60 schools responded to an invitation from Sheriff Weaver to provide artwork to help dress up the substation that was built in 2011.

Among the students whose art was selected for permanent display in the gallery, was Spencer Kuhn, an 8th grader from American Academy. Following a lesson in cubism featuring the artwork of Picasso, Kuhn created an abstract of a stand of trees. “It was a lot of fun, but it was a challenge,” Kuhn said “… a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

“I’m so proud of these young DCSD artists,” Sher-iff Weaver said. “They did such a fantastic job. I only wish I had more walls at this facility to showcase more student art.”

The gallery is open to the public, however, because of the secured nature of the substation building, the Sher-iff’s Office requests visitors check in with the front desk.

To view the list of artists whose work is on display, visit http://bit.ly/studentart.

Students and families flock to new art gallery Grand Opening Celebration at Sheriff’s Substation.

Creativity | Communication | Critical Thinking | Collaboration

THE number of meals DCSD Nutrition Services has proudly

served officers acceptingDr. Liz Fagen’s invitation to join

students at school for lunch.

8-Color’

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Trekkers (11-14) • Teen Adventure (13-16) • Teen Leaders (15-16)

Counselor in Training (16-17)

Ages 6-17YMCA Camp Santa Maria is a wonderful, small overnight summer camp nestled in the Rocky Mountains that focuses on youth development, crafting strong community, and building friendships. YMCA Camp Santa Maria is a branch of the YMCA of Boulder Valley.

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Summer Camp 2013Robotics, Game Creation & Movie Making for ages 8-14Computer Animation for ages 9 & Up Pre-Robotics for ages 6-7Morning and afternoon classesConvenient Denver Metro location

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Fundamental Technology Education

COLORADO LEGACY FC Colorado’s newest soccer club “Dedicated to the Player and Community” Colorado’s newest soccer club “Dedicated to the Player and Community”

For more information and to register visit us at www.ColoradoLegacyFC.org

FREE SOCCER GAMES AND KICKAROUNDSEVERY FRIDAY IN MAY 5:00 TO 6:00 PM@ THUNDERRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL* All ages welcome

SUMMER SOCCER CAMPJUNE 10 - 131:00 TO 3:00 PM@ THUNDERRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL* Ages 3-8

* High school players will be at all events to mentor players

These are just a few of the projects we are working on for upcoming editions of your award-winning local newspaper.

On the horizon...

April: Spring Home & Garden May: DC Schools ‘Today’ | Graduation Mother’s Day | Summer Fun Guide June: Best of the Best | Father’s Day | July 4th July: Pet Press August: Douglas County Fair | Fall Sports Preview

23 community papers & 20 websitesreaching over 400,000 readers.

For advertising information contact Barb Stolte303-566-4113 | bstolte@OurColoradoNews.com

Douglas County School District | (303) 387-01008

“This type of program allows our students to engage with other students on a global scale and focuses on critical thinking, problem solving and decision- making skills they must have in order to succeed,” said Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen.

Ameribotics hosts enrichment classes

led by certified teachers and industry experts for students interested in learn-ing about robotics. A few partial and full scholarships are available for students based on financial need and commit-ment.

Last year, Ameribotics successfully bid to hold the 2013 IRO in Denver. Menzer

has been working as an ambassador, inviting other countries to participate in this year’s event. So far, 2,000 students, parents and chaperones are slated for the December 17-20 international competition at the Colorado Convention Center. Menzer hopes to bring a large American team to this year’s competition.

iRobots? Gather STEAM Continued from page 5

Ameribotics 2013 Summer Camp programs include Robots in Movies, Robot Dance and Parade of Robots, along with two camps dedicated to preparation for the 2013 International Robot Olympiad held in Denver. Students make friends while learning from robotics industry experts and licensed teachers. info@ameribotics.orgDueling Robots: International Robot

Olympiad, Gwangju City, South Korea.