THE PULSE
Pikes Peak Early College, August 2017 Edition
"Preparing Every Student"
Science: Some of the biggest stories at PPEC are happening in the science lab. The solar eclipse was a fabulous event for the science group to get outside and experience a rare and exciting phenomenon. As a school we made it a priority for students to safely observe the solar eclipse by taking a break from regularly scheduled classroom instruction to throw a celebratory solar eclipse cookout complete with NASA approved glasses. Both Biology and Chemistry students have started the year exploring all aspects of Scientific Inquiry. They have brainstormed topics of interest, determined factors that affect those topics and written scientific based questions regarding those topics. Students then created specific and testable hypotheses and null hypotheses to address those questions. In their collaborative lab groups students practiced working as a team as they designed their experimental procedure. The best part so far has been presenting their design to their class and receiving critical feedback before progressing in the experimental phase. After endless revisions, and repeated presentation to the class, students will soon conduct their designed experiments and analyze their data and draw conclusions based on their results. This long process is a critical step in helping students not just read about the process of scientific inquiry but to truly apply it and master it with a topic that they found interesting.
English: It is so great to be back to school and seeing the success that our students are achieving. In American Literature, students rewrote The Declaration of Independence for a more modern audience. In English 2, students are completing their Heroes and Villains Project, where they had to research a historical person, describe them as either a hero or villain, and design and advertise a story where the characters from their team interact. In English 1, students are completing their Epic Hero’s Quest Project, where they had to research a mathematician or scientist and write a myth about them; then, they had to write a story where all of their team’s mythological characters interact.
In US History, students have completed unit one and are moving into learning about the creation of The Constitution. In World History & Geography, students have moved in studying the Republic of Rome. In American Government, students are studying the Supreme Court and the Role of Government.
Tech/Electives
Meet Chelly Hardman - PPEC Registrar
Counselors Corner
In an effort to help students discover their individual pathways, we are asking students to sign up for the District sponsored Career Fair on September 5th as well as our first college trip to CU Boulder and CU Denver in October.
Additionally many of our 10th and 11th grade students are enrolled in Academic Fitness where we started discussing time management skills, active listening skills, and problem solving skills.
Concurrent Enrollment advising meetings will start after Labor Day. Please book your appointment early and let me know how I can assist you!
Information regarding Advising or Concurrent Enrollment is at your fingertips!
Upcoming Events
1st - No school, Teacher Professional Day
4th - No school, Labor Day
5th- College Advising appointments begin for Spring 2017
14th - District Wide Career Fair (10th - 12th) Students must Preregister here by 9-5-17
18th - PPEC Family Engagement Council @ 5:30pm
25th - All School Field Trip - High Trails Outdoor Education Center