IMPORTANT DATES
- Parent/Teacher Conferences: Friday, February 17 from 8:00-2:30 PM- no students on campus
- Presidents' Day: Monday, February 20- no students on campus
- Black Out Dance: Friday, February 24 from 7:30-10:30 PM at La Foret Conference & Retreat Center
- D49 Professional Development Day: Monday, February 27- no students on campus
HS Parent/Teacher Conferences February 17
The Campus (SSAE and PPEC high schools) will have parent/teacher conferences on Friday, February 17, 2023, from 8:00-2:30 PM. Please click on the link below to access the Parent/Teacher Conferences Sign-Up Genius. Be sure to check with your student to verify each teacher's name to sign-up for a slot. Each time slot will be 10 minutes.If you are unavailable for this date and time, please reach out to the individual teacher via email to schedule a conference.We look forward to seeing you then.
Thank you!
PPEC/SSAE HS teachers
Thank you!
PPEC/SSAE HS teachers
BLACKOUT DANCE - February 24 @ La Foret Tickets on Sale NOW!
Tickets for the long-awaited Blackout Dance on February 24 are now ON SALE. The tickets will be $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Dress dark and get ready for a night of neon at La Foret - Inglis Hall starting at 7:30 pm and lasting until 10:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you there!
- Permission Slips for Campus HS students attending the dance must be turned in at the time of purchase.
- The out-of-building guest form must be turned in at the time of purchase - no later than Feb 22.
Permission Slip for Campus HS students attending the dance must be turned in at the time of purchase.
Out-of-building guest permission form must be turned in at the time of purchase - no later than Feb 22.
 |  |  |
PPEC Yeti: Brynn Chapman Pikes Peak Early College is proud to announce our Yeti for the month of January, Brynn Chapman. Meet Brynn: Brynn is a senior at Pikes Peak Early College. She came to PPEC to earn college credit and to see if she could figure out what she wanted to do with her future. Brynn is interested in computers and math and is still determining her path. Currently, she is working toward her associate’s degree in general studies. She plans to stay at PPEC for an additional year beyond this one to finish her degree. After she obtains her associate’s degree, she intends to finalize her pathway and go to college to finish her degree while working part-time. Brynn also works on her family’s farm up in Monument, and each fall, she helps her family with their annual pumpkin patch event. Brynn feels honored to be nominated and recognized as Yeti of the month. She’s touched that the people around her think of her as a role model who embodies the Yeti traits. The yeti traits Brynn has mastered are the same traits she was nominated for. She embraces her journey as not many high school students are immediately motivated to jump into college classes, yet she has. She welcomes challenges by taking college classes while in high school, determining her pathway in life, and working hard to achieve her goals. Finally, Brynn leads with humility and joy. She is a very kind and caring student who looks out for others and models humility along the way. Brynn named her Yeti Sherwood after the tale of Robin Hood. She sees parallels in the Robin Hood story to that of Jesus. Also, she thinks of Robin Hood as someone who leads confidently and is a dreamer. Brynn’s quote, “ your dreams may not be real yet, but they are real to you, and reaching your dreams is what it’s all about.” Congratulations, Brynn Chapman, PPEC’s January Yeti! | Yetis of the month The Campus is pleased to announce that we have not one but TWO Yetis for the Month of December! Congratulations to Brynn Chapman from Pikes Peak Early College and Kacie Northcutt from Springs Studio! | SSAE Yeti: Kacie Northcutt Hi, I am Kacie Northcutt, I thought it was very unexpected for me to become the Yeti of the month because there are many other good students here. I chose Springs Studio because my mom thought it would be a good school for me at the time. I stayed because the teachers are nice to me and it feels like a safe and understanding environment. I find creating art fun in my free time and I like to be creative when I’m feeling motivated. I have many ideas in mind of what career I like, including Engineering, Acting, Graphic Design, and Military. I’m delighted to be chosen by my peers and teachers to be the Yeti of the month. I believe I have mastered Yeti traits such as responsibility, honesty, and kindness. I’m responsible because I keep up with my work on my own, and I’m self-motivated. I am honest because I know my teachers will help me, and I value the truth. I am also kind because I like to help others when they need me. |
PPEC Yeti: Brynn Chapman
Pikes Peak Early College is proud to announce our Yeti for the month of January, Brynn Chapman. Meet Brynn: Brynn is a senior at Pikes Peak Early College. She came to PPEC to earn college credit and to see if she could figure out what she wanted to do with her future. Brynn is interested in computers and math and is still determining her path. Currently, she is working toward her associate’s degree in general studies. She plans to stay at PPEC for an additional year beyond this one to finish her degree. After she obtains her associate’s degree, she intends to finalize her pathway and go to college to finish her degree while working part-time. Brynn also works on her family’s farm up in Monument, and each fall, she helps her family with their annual pumpkin patch event. Brynn feels honored to be nominated and recognized as Yeti of the month. She’s touched that the people around her think of her as a role model who embodies the Yeti traits. The yeti traits Brynn has mastered are the same traits she was nominated for. She embraces her journey as not many high school students are immediately motivated to jump into college classes, yet she has. She welcomes challenges by taking college classes while in high school, determining her pathway in life, and working hard to achieve her goals. Finally, Brynn leads with humility and joy. She is a very kind and caring student who looks out for others and models humility along the way. Brynn named her Yeti Sherwood after the tale of Robin Hood. She sees parallels in the Robin Hood story to that of Jesus. Also, she thinks of Robin Hood as someone who leads confidently and is a dreamer. Brynn’s quote, “ your dreams may not be real yet, but they are real to you, and reaching your dreams is what it’s all about.” Congratulations, Brynn Chapman, PPEC’s January Yeti!
Yetis of the month
The Campus is pleased to announce that we have not one but TWO Yetis for the Month of December! Congratulations to Brynn Chapman from Pikes Peak Early College and Kacie Northcutt from Springs Studio!
SSAE Yeti: Kacie Northcutt
Hi, I am Kacie Northcutt, I thought it was very unexpected for me to become the Yeti of the month because there are many other good students here. I chose Springs Studio because my mom thought it would be a good school for me at the time. I stayed because the teachers are nice to me and it feels like a safe and understanding environment. I find creating art fun in my free time and I like to be creative when I’m feeling motivated. I have many ideas in mind of what career I like, including Engineering, Acting, Graphic Design, and Military. I’m delighted to be chosen by my peers and teachers to be the Yeti of the month. I believe I have mastered Yeti traits such as responsibility, honesty, and kindness. I’m responsible because I keep up with my work on my own, and I’m self-motivated. I am honest because I know my teachers will help me, and I value the truth. I am also kind because I like to help others when they need me.
 |  |  |
Algebra II & Pre Algebra Happy February! Students have been sharpening their trigonometry skills as they learn about the unit circle, sine, cosine, and tangent. We have been adding to our knowledge base to prepare for the Final in May. As a reminder, students on Aleks.com should be working to maintain at least the weekly progress goals outlined in their Aleks.com grade book. Students using Edgenuity.com for math should be working towards the Target Progress outlined on their homepage. If students need support, they can always work with me during Math Support times (11:50-12:50 pm M/W), virtually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and/or on select Friday mornings at school. Don't forget to use the Friday Support sign-up link posted around campus if you plan to attend. | Geometry & Algebra I Students in Algebra I are working on solving Systems of Equations and will soon be working on Quadratics and Square Roots. Geometry is currently exploring all the formulas associated with Circles. Students should be maintaining their daily goals in Edgenuity and their weekly 5% progress goals in Aleks. I still offer my Math Support class during 5th period (12:55-1:55 pm Mon/Wed) and virtually on Tues/Thur. Please remember to reach out if you have any questions, and stay warm! We're almost to Spring! | Pre-Calculus, Algebra III, & College In PreCalculus, students are spending time working on Unit Circles and Identities. Mr. Beadles is a Trigonometry nerd, so students are having to listen to his crazy stories. Students are doing well at learning in class work. A reminder that students have a topic goal, along with the progress check. Grades are found in Aleks. Seniors should be conscious of their percentages as they end the school year. Seniors finish a week ahead of the rest of the school. Students in Pre-Calc A, B, and Algebra 3 will be taking the Accuplacer on April 17th for placement in college courses and/or graduation requirements. |
Algebra II & Pre Algebra
Happy February! Students have been sharpening their trigonometry skills as they learn about the unit circle, sine, cosine, and tangent. We have been adding to our knowledge base to prepare for the Final in May. As a reminder, students on Aleks.com should be working to maintain at least the weekly progress goals outlined in their Aleks.com grade book. Students using Edgenuity.com for math should be working towards the Target Progress outlined on their homepage. If students need support, they can always work with me during Math Support times (11:50-12:50 pm M/W), virtually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and/or on select Friday mornings at school. Don't forget to use the Friday Support sign-up link posted around campus if you plan to attend.
Geometry & Algebra I
Students in Algebra I are working on solving Systems of Equations and will soon be working on Quadratics and Square Roots. Geometry is currently exploring all the formulas associated with Circles. Students should be maintaining their daily goals in Edgenuity and their weekly 5% progress goals in Aleks. I still offer my Math Support class during 5th period (12:55-1:55 pm Mon/Wed) and virtually on Tues/Thur. Please remember to reach out if you have any questions, and stay warm! We're almost to Spring!
Pre-Calculus, Algebra III, & College
In PreCalculus, students are spending time working on Unit Circles and Identities. Mr. Beadles is a Trigonometry nerd, so students are having to listen to his crazy stories. Students are doing well at learning in class work. A reminder that students have a topic goal, along with the progress check. Grades are found in Aleks. Seniors should be conscious of their percentages as they end the school year. Seniors finish a week ahead of the rest of the school. Students in Pre-Calc A, B, and Algebra 3 will be taking the Accuplacer on April 17th for placement in college courses and/or graduation requirements.
Chemistry & Honors Biology
Wow! January was a "reactive" month in the Science Lab! Honors Chemistry students have been very busy discovering the properties of chemical reactions through experimentation and exploratory labs. They have been challenged to balance chemical equations and identify types of chemical reactions. Many were challenged by stoichiometry problems, but all have found a deep appreciation for the importance of a "balanced" equation. January was no less exciting for Chemistry students as they tested their knowledge and skills in calorimetry, thermodynamics, and insulating properties by designing a cooler that could maintain an ice cube in boiling water for two minutes. We have some serious future engineers in our classroom; that's a fact! February will be filled with studying acids and bases for Chemistry students. January was also an exciting month for Biology students and will continue to be quite the "story to tell." They have been exploring genetics and inheritance through their Generations Project. In this project, we are focusing on our three key questions: How are traits passed from one generation to another, and why do members of the same family have different traits? Why are some traits hidden in one generation and expressed in the next? What influences one's identity and how it changes throughout their lifetime? We explore these questions through labs, team discussions, modeling, and lively debates supported by evidence and reasoning. It's been impressive to see our bright young scientists defend their claims with textual evidence. I see some future lawyers in our Science lab!
 |  |  |
English I Students in English I are in the midst of their Generations Project. In this project, we focus on the essential question why is it important to tell your story? Students wrote personal narratives, learned about generational differences, and are now working on interviews. | English IIEnglish II students have started Passion Projects that they will engage with throughout the rest of this semester. They have each chosen a topic of interest that addresses a problem in the world today. Right now, they are analyzing arguments based on their topic and are working towards writing an essay that evaluates the research they have found. This will lead to students creating their own arguments around their topics to be presented as a persuasive speech in class. | English III February brings English 3 into the world of survival. Students are reading, researching, and writing about survival. Groups will work to apply their research and thinking skills to a series of events and then discuss who has the best ideas for each situation. This is all in preparation for writing a process essay. |
English I
Students in English I are in the midst of their Generations Project. In this project, we focus on the essential question why is it important to tell your story? Students wrote personal narratives, learned about generational differences, and are now working on interviews.
English II
English II students have started Passion Projects that they will engage with throughout the rest of this semester. They have each chosen a topic of interest that addresses a problem in the world today. Right now, they are analyzing arguments based on their topic and are working towards writing an essay that evaluates the research they have found. This will lead to students creating their own arguments around their topics to be presented as a persuasive speech in class.
English III
February brings English 3 into the world of survival. Students are reading, researching, and writing about survival. Groups will work to apply their research and thinking skills to a series of events and then discuss who has the best ideas for each situation. This is all in preparation for writing a process essay.
 |  |  |
HistoryUS History and World History students spent the majority of January learning more about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the holiday that honors him. In addition, the students wrote an essay in response to one of three prompts about MLK and his contributions. | Biology- Physical Science- Forensic Science What a great month January was! Biology was able to learn about the anatomy of the heart and dissect sheep hearts! We are now working on Cells before moving into genetics and DNA! Ask your students about the "Naked Eggs" lab we are working on now! Physical Science used Physics to solve a crime, and dissected cow eyeballs to refresh on how refraction and reflection work. We have a visit from the USAFA Chemistry department, Zspace Bus, and so many labs coming up! Forensic Science - students have been working on becoming investigators as they have worked through some forensic labs and cases! Ask them about the case of the murdered mayor that is working on solving now! | Spanish ¡Hola! ¡Felíz mes de Febrero! Students in Spanish 1 are learning about Demonstrative Adjectives and are formulating sentences by making a conversational dialogue in real-life situations to be recorded in Google Classroom. Students in Spanish 2 are learning about Reflexive Verbs, where students will be presenting in class how they would be preparing to go to a special event of their choice. I look forward to hearing some great recordings and seeing some fun and great presentations! |
History
US History and World History students spent the majority of January learning more about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the holiday that honors him. In addition, the students wrote an essay in response to one of three prompts about MLK and his contributions.
Biology- Physical Science- Forensic Science
What a great month January was! Biology was able to learn about the anatomy of the heart and dissect sheep hearts! We are now working on Cells before moving into genetics and DNA! Ask your students about the "Naked Eggs" lab we are working on now! Physical Science used Physics to solve a crime, and dissected cow eyeballs to refresh on how refraction and reflection work. We have a visit from the USAFA Chemistry department, Zspace Bus, and so many labs coming up! Forensic Science - students have been working on becoming investigators as they have worked through some forensic labs and cases! Ask them about the case of the murdered mayor that is working on solving now!
Spanish
¡Hola! ¡Felíz mes de Febrero! Students in Spanish 1 are learning about Demonstrative Adjectives and are formulating sentences by making a conversational dialogue in real-life situations to be recorded in Google Classroom. Students in Spanish 2 are learning about Reflexive Verbs, where students will be presenting in class how they would be preparing to go to a special event of their choice. I look forward to hearing some great recordings and seeing some fun and great presentations!
Engineering
Intro Engineering students are having an out-of-this-world time as they design new model rockets that are based on space programs from history! Researching the features of each program and applying those to the design of a rocket that must fly between 100 and 121 meters in altitude is the core of the project. Principles of Engineering are immersing themselves in structures as they learn the principles of trusses in advance of a bridge-building contest.
Robotics Team
Robotics is preparing an All-Star Bot for the AFCEA Space Symposium at The Broadmoor. The tournament will take place on February 20. The other teams continue to prepare as they hope to have a chance at qualifying for State.
Coding
The second semester is in full swing! Students have been working hard in all of their elective courses. Coding students are utilizing Python to draw and create animations. Students are importing Pygame library to use functions to draw different shapes. Students are creating their own art in a code your own project. Do you know a computer scientist or programmer that is interested in speaking to our students? I am looking for any parent or family friend willing to give our students an in-depth look into future careers. Please let me know if you have a contact for us (ncummings@d49.org)! Thank you!
Peer Tutoring Offered
Peer Support Coaches are students who enjoy helping other students develop their academic abilities and provide extra support to motivate them through difficult assignments. We meet every Friday from 10:40-11:55 am, and the coaches will establish their own availability at various times throughout the week. Email Mrs. Shonk, jshonk@d49.org, if you are interested in joining the Peer Support team! For more information, check out our website.
The Generations Project Family Potluck- March 15
Save the date! The Generations Project Family Potluck is coming up on March 15 from 5-6 pm. This is an event for freshmen; more details to come soon.
FINAL order for Yearbook- March 10
The final deadline to order a yearbook is March 10. To order your yearbook, visit inter-state.com/order and enter code 72527M.
Final deadline for all senior portraits, quotes, and dedications- February 17.
Just to clarify, there is only ONE yearbook for SSAE and PPEC combined. The website says SSAE - sorry for the confusion!
 |  |  |
ESports is at the Campus! 2nd Semester ESPORTS will resume 1/18/2022 Teams will compete in Super Smash Brothers tournaments. Reach out to ncummings@d49.org for any questions. Please click here to sign up if you would like to join for 2nd semester season. ncummings@d49.org | Community Service (Volunteer) Club Students will come together and provide community service at various events/organizations. Students meet in room 167 on Wednesdays from 3:10-4:10 PM. | Books and Bagels
|
ESports is at the Campus!
2nd Semester ESPORTS will resume 1/18/2022 Teams will compete in Super Smash Brothers tournaments. Reach out to ncummings@d49.org for any questions. Please click here to sign up if you would like to join for 2nd semester season. ncummings@d49.org
Community Service (Volunteer) Club
Students will come together and provide community service at various events/organizations. Students meet in room 167 on Wednesdays from 3:10-4:10 PM.
Books and Bagels
Fridays 9:15-10:15 AM
Meet in room 165
Books and Bagels is a student-led group where members take turns selecting books for the group to read. B&B meets on Fridays to have fun discussing the books.
 |  |  |
Mission Possible The club's mission: To encourage and edify one another and to multiply the goodness of God for a positive impact. | Want to start a club? Have an idea for a club you and your friends would like to create? Share that idea with a teacher. | Table Top Games A Club for D&D, Magic, and other games that express the fantastical imagination of our students. This club meets on Mondays from 3:10-4:10 PM in room 156. Reach out to Mrs. Rotunno for more information. |
Mission Possible
The club's mission: To encourage and edify one another and to multiply the goodness of God for a positive impact.
Want to start a club?
Have an idea for a club you and your friends would like to create? Share that idea with a teacher.
Table Top Games
A Club for D&D, Magic, and other games that express the fantastical imagination of our students. This club meets on Mondays from 3:10-4:10 PM in room 156. Reach out to Mrs. Rotunno for more information.