Celebrations @ Sierra
Sierra Middle School Community Update — January 2015
Top spellers crowned
Sierra held its school spelling bee on Thursday, January 15. Eighth-grader Michael Loomer earned first place honors, with Rorie Levy (7th grade) taking second place and Iain Isdale (8th grade) placing third. All three winners will compete at the district contest February 7, at Castle Rock Middle School.
Kindle Fires come to DIL classes
Dimensions in Literacy classes rolled out usage of brand new Kindle Fires in January. Before Winter Break students attended an orientation to learn about proper usage and titles currently available. The devices have audio, which will allow students to become better readers as they listen to professional narrators read aloud. We hope to add more Kindles and titles next year, too. A BIG thank you goes to Mrs. Meurer for ordering the Kindles, downloading the ebooks, and instructing students on using them.
Counselors host college readiness night
On January 6, the SMS counseling department held an information night titled High School: The Door to College. About 300 parents and students attended the event, which aimed to help families begin to prepare for high school and college. Topics included researching scholarship opportunities, college admission standards, resources and tools to get ahead, and Naviance, which is a new program for career and college exploration. "Students experience a good amount of anxiety when thinking about their futures. They often don't know where to start and what they should be doing now in order to be successful in high school to increase their opportunities after high school," said counselor Tamra Maupin about the importance of workshops such as this one. Retired Jefferson County counselor Robin Boren, who now has a business called The College Doctor, was the featured speaker.
The counseling office has started a Career Club, which will meet January 21, from 3-4:30 p.m. in Mr. Davis' room with a presentation from the Parker Police Department.
Bazaar Yields Thousands for Community
The Snowmass Bazaar, held in December, raised $3,100. There were 40 student businesses selling crafts, foods, and decorations. Through this project, the team will donate $700 each to Project Education South Sudan, the Dumb Friends League Buddy Center in Castle Rock, Wounded Warrior Project, and American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The remaining $300 will remain at Sierra to helps students whose families are in need of assistance with expenses, such as field trips.
Start saving those Box Tops
National Junior Honor Society will hold Sierra's annual Box Tops for Education Drive beginning at the end of February. More details will be available then. But in the meantime, families are encouraged to start saving Box Tops labels. More information about qualifying products are available by clicking here.