Polaris Math Stars Light up Noetic Math Contest

Polaris star students one again shone on the national stage. Led to success by Richard Lloyd, our phenomenal fifth grade math teacher, and Gail Axt, our super librarian, thirty-eight fourth and fifth grade Polaris students took national honors in this year’s Noetic Learning Math Contest.

Held twice a year, this contest stimulates our students’ interest in math and inspires them to excel. This spring 19,831 students representing 990 teams across the country put pencils to paper to calculate and solve complex math problems. Our students rose to the occasion and proved their exceptional math skills and aptitude as shown in the following results.

The following Polaris students won the National Honor Roll title. This title is awarded to the top 10% of participating students in the nation.

Grade 5

Sam Anderson, Owen Keith, Colston Leonard, Colin Nagel, Richard Seifert, Henry Shugart, Will Snodgrass, Declan Soane, and Aidan Wood

The following Polaris students are the winners of their teams.

Grade 5

Sam Anderson * (highest score in Colorado)

Grade 4

Oliver Costello, Carter Ottele, and Devon Rutledge

The following Polaris students received National Honorable Mention.

Grade 5

Natalie Angstadt,  Emma Aylesworth, Dylan Carrey, Ross Combs, Ella Galaty, Oliver Larraz, Lily Shields, Owen Smith, Alice Roberts, and Ailie Wood

Grade 4

Spencer Breaux, Thea Cohen-Porter, Claire Ely, Eric Fisher, Ruth Gamble, Caelen Hilty, Elliott Lehn, Murphy MacDonald, Neave Murray, Ethan O’Neill, Jane Parney, and Zoee Pond

More detailed information about the Noetic Learning Math Contest can be found at: http://www.noetic-learning.com/mathcontest

Tremendous congratulations to our Polaris math stars!

Principal Karin Johnson 

Healthy and thriving at Polaris

I’m so proud of our culture of wellness at Polaris. Our children are often moving around while learning in their classrooms and the teachers try to give them extra recess beyond their regular lunch recesses. We have scratch cooking and a salad bar at lunch. We have sports clubs and electives that encourage running and healthy living. And I have great news! Thanks to new bond funds, Mr. Hunter Brown will be a full time PE teacher starting next year.

We also have wonderful role models. I want to commend Mary Hoftiezer, our special education teacher who recently completed the Denver Bunny Bolt 10K as part of the Spring Wellness Challenge, finishing the race in 44:05 and placing first in her age group!

Mary says running and making healthy choices is a great way to stay energized and motivated each day in the classroom. “I enjoy challenging myself in training and races, and truly enjoy being fit and healthy,” she said.

We hope Mary serves as an inspiration for everyone to keep moving. Congratulations to Mary and let’s all be wellness warriors.

Principal Karin Johnson

Love Polaris, Love the Arts

The thrilling sound of African drums filled our auditorium on Thursday evening, signaling one of my favorite Polaris traditions: For the Love of Art.

African drummer and dancer Koffi Togo summed up why we celebrate the arts when he told the crowd: “We need to celebrate each other right now! We need to enjoy each other right now!”

With that in mind, I celebrate you and the amazing artists — young and old — in our Polaris community.

I saw such beautiful scenes on Thursday: a Polaris student, who had made her own clothing, her mother who was demonstrating the art of sushi-making, and her aunt who came to show her jewelry.

We had a father-son instrumental duo, students showing greeting cards they had made, hand-knitted hats, culinary creations and popular participatory art: how to make animals out of balloons.

Fabulous spicy chili topped off the evening!

I love this event! Art has always been central to Polaris’ identity thanks to art teacher Danny Mey (aka Coach D) and our classroom teachers who weave visual, musical and written arts into learning every day at Polaris.

Often, visitors remark about our school’s beauty. From our ceramic garden on our playground to our library with its vibrant mural, and student creations that turn our walls into an ever-changing art gallery.  Polaris at Ebert is a beautiful school, where children learn and grow.

Thanks very much to the many parents and children who made For the Love of Art a hit again this year. You helped us all “enjoy each other right now.”

Principal Karin Johnson

Help Polaris stay on top!

Polaris @ Ebert is one of only a handful of Denver Public Schools to earn the highest rating: Distinguished. This rare and coveted Distinguished rating demonstrates not only excellence, but growth, so it’s remarkable that we’ve been able to earn this ranking the last four years.

The ratings are determined partly by students’ CSAP scores, but the scores are not the only factor the district weighs. Additionally, the district wants to hear from students and parents to know what they consider their school’s strengths and what they feel could be improved. To accomplish that, the district distributes satisfaction surveys. Your children fill theirs out at school, and today, they will bring home the parent surveys in their yellow Thursday envelopes.

As nice as those Distinguished signs gracing our building are, the rating gives Polaris much more than well-deserved bragging rights. Parents of prospective students pay attention to the rankings, and so do middle schools that offer special programs.

Thanks to our ranking, we enjoy greater autonomy in implementing the district curriculum, as it demonstrates to the district that our children not only excel at that DPS curriculum, but are capable of much more. This autonomy affords us the opportunity to create a unique learning environment where students stretch their intellects and tap their creativity.

Our school needs your help.

Please help us retain our distinguished rating by filling out and sending back the parent surveys that you will receive today in your child’s yellow envelope.  If you’re happy with the opportunities your child has at Polaris, please, let the district know!

If you have concerns with the school, by all means let me know. We are always striving to improve our offerings and we welcome your input.

Please help us maintain our distinguished rating and mail your survey by the May 11 postmark deadline. Thank you!

Principal Karin Johnson

Destination Imagination!

On March 16, the Polaris fifth grade Destination Imagination team comprised of students Ella Galaty, Owen Keith, Soph Hartgrove and Eli Dunn, otherwise known as The Black Eyed Tees, took home 1st place in the Improvisation category! On April 13 they will compete for the State Championship at the Auraria Campus. The Team Manager is Sara Keith and the Assistant Team manager is former Polaris student, Bridget Galaty. Way to go team!

Thank you to all of our Polaris teachers, parents and students for their exceptional effort and the courage needed to imagine and achieve!

Principal Karin Johnson

Singing and dancing

Last Thursday, I had the good fortune to catch the first-graders’ rehearsal of a wonderful show that they performed with our music teacher, Corrilee Kielmeyer. The theme of this heavenly production was Celestial Songs and Stories. The children took us around the world with pieces from Scotland to Korea to Mexico, the United Kingdom and Tanzania.

It reminded me how lucky we are to have such fine music, band and orchestra programs at Polaris led by Ms. Kielmeyer. I am thrilled, as well, that our global curriculum stretches from the classroom to music and beyond!

On Friday, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with an energized assembly, where our entire school was treated to Irish dancing by the Wick School of Irish Dance. Some of the youngest stars were our own Polaris dancers. Included in the ensemble were:

• Neave Murray
• Christina Doolan

And from our after-school enrichment class, the following dancers performed:

• Ellie Richardson
• Zoey Monroe
• Hailey Sine
• Zinnia McKenna
• Chelsea Monroe
• Farrah Nakamura
• Addie Kirschling
• Meg Parent
• Gwendolyn Osborne

We are singing and dancing our way toward spring! Enjoy lovely weather and spring break with your children, and we look forward to seeing you all again on April 1.

Principal Karin Johnson

Love of Learning Library

From its soaring ceilings to its large windows and vibrant three-dimensional artwork to shelves brimming with wondrous books, our Polaris library is a magical place! This is not just a gorgeous setting, but a rich learning environment, where our students benefit from the extraordinary talents of our fantastic librarian, Gail Axt. Her fine work with our students supports their love of books that will surely last a lifetime.

By hearing stories, choosing books, participating in reader’s theater and learning research skills, students discover a passion for reading that will nourish them for decades to come. We are very proud of the intentional “culture of reading” that exists here at school.

The library has 13,000 books, videos, DVDs and CDs all purchased with the needs of high-ability learners in mind. With only a student population of 335, last year we checked-out almost 9,000 items to children and their teachers! The Polaris library is a VERY busy place.

As with all our Specials, the library aims to integrate with classroom curriculum to make the program most meaningful for students. Whether it is teaching Egyptian Math during the fourth grade Ancient Egypt unit, reading the Ancient Greek play “Electra” in fifth, or using the abacus to support third graders in their study of Asia, library time enriches and extends the classroom work the children are already doing.

In addition to encouraging the habit of reading, our library provides the most current titles available. Through the generosity of parent support of the Birthday Book Program, our library continues to have one of the most up-to-date collections in the district.  We also have a small “parenting” area where you may check-out books devoted to issues surrounding the social-emotional needs of gifted children.

We believe that the Polaris library is the best at encouraging children to be independent learners who possess a lifetime love of literature.

Principal Karin Johnson

Behind the scenes and out in front
Each quarter, our amazing teachers, volunteers and parents step forward to share their talents and skills through our electives program. These wonderful classes offer enrichment beyond the core curriculum and give students an opportunity to select classes based on their interests and passions. It is an enormous job to match each Polaris student to their desired electives. Most of you may not know it, as this is a behind-the scenes volunteer job, but Polaris parents Bethany Tucker and her husband Jason Shugart have managed six years of spreadsheets for our electives program to ensure a seamless registration process. This quarter marks Bethany and Jason’s last at Polaris as their son, Henry, graduates this spring. Thank you Bethany and Jason for your commitment to this very important job!

We are truly grateful that our electives program remains strong and grows ever stronger through the endless effort of Polaris parent and Electives Coordinator Sherry Beardshear. From Rookie Rugby to Around the World with Anthropology, from Hip Hop to Making Mosaics, she coordinates our extraordinary offerings on Friday afternoons. For the past six years, Sherry has worked tirelessly to provide our children with opportunities not offered at any other DPS school.

When you see Sherry, Bethany and Jason, please show your gratitude with a high-five, handshake, or a hug! If you are interested in supporting our electives program, or in taking over Bethany and Jason’s registration job, please contact Sherry Beardshear at polaris.electives@gmail.com.

Whether you work behind the scenes or out in front, I am so grateful for our Polaris parents who support our school!

Principal Karin Johnson

Polaris Teachers’ dedication to our students fills my heart with joy!

This time of year we think fondly about those who fill our hearts with joy. This Valentine’s Day, I want to convey my admiration for our Polaris faculty, who work tirelessly to prepare lessons that best suit our highly capable students.  It requires great dedication and planning to prepare lessons that engage children and teach them skills to produce high-quality work.

“We are altogether too easily deceived by the time-worn argument that the gifted student, ‘the genius’ perhaps, will get along somehow without much teaching. The fact is, the gifted… and the brilliant… are the ones who need the closest attention of the skillful mechanic.” – W. Franklin Jones, Ph. D., in An Experimental-Critical Study of the Problem of Grading and Promotion (1912)

This year I have observed countless, spectacular lessons such as the following:

• A rich literature lesson in which students located and discussed similes found in Natalie Babbit’s Tuck Everlasting.
• An in-depth Math in Focus geometry lesson supported by the Promethean board to teach about triangles and the relationship between the base and the height and the formula for the area of a triangle of ½ (bh).
• A study of expository text in which some of our youngest students moved a small tricycle, as they journeyed each day toward a new learning objective.
• A close reading from Psychology Today in which students studied orphan diseases, selected a disease to sponsor as a class and, raised money to send to the International Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Association, in honor of Laura Rossano, a victim of the disease.
• Phenomenal, independent research projects in our library.
• Original Tall Tales written by our remarkable authors.
• The Salem Witch Trials, dramatized as a part of a Crime and Punishment Unit.

Bright students paired with smart, thoughtful and well-prepared teachers equals a match made in heaven!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Principal Karin Johnson

It was my honor to represent Polaris students and teachers at the DPS Board of Education meeting. The DPS Board, Superintendent Tom Boasberg and the Colorado Department of Education recognized our outstanding academic achievement on the state’s TCAP measurement.

Polaris @ Ebert received the 2012 John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award which is given to schools that demonstrate excellent academic achievement. On the school performance framework that is used by the state to evaluate schools, these schools “exceed” expectations on the academic achievement indicator and “meet or exceed” expectations on the indicator related to academic growth gaps.

Polaris also received the 2012 Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award, which is given to schools that demonstrate exceptional student growth. Polaris was measured on the school performance framework that is used by the state to evaluate schools. These schools “exceed” expectations on the indicator related to longitudinal academic growth and “meet or exceed” expectations.

We could not receive such accolades from the state without tremendous parent support. Our parents show their support by getting students to school on time each day and making sure their child is ready to learn. I cannot emphasize enough that EVERY day is an important day of learning at Polaris. The Polaris curriculum is very advanced and fast-paced. Each day is filled with in-depth lessons, high level concepts and connections to previous learning. TCAP testing is just around the corner, so it is especially important that our students participate in every opportunity to receive instruction and preparation to demonstrate what they know. Our “distinguished” rating is not merely a point of pride. It allows us to have a high level of autonomy in curricular decisions and affords us the option to make choices regarding enrichment and electives for our high-ability learners.

Congratulations to Polaris students and faculty. And thank you Polaris parents for your continuing support in the education of your remarkable children.

Let’s stay on top,

Principal Karin Johnson

P.S. Parents of students in third-through-fifth grades, please help us as we head into TCAP testing season. Please do not schedule doctor or dentist appointments or any fabulous vacations during TCAPs. Any incomplete tests count against our rating. Thank you!

New video studio, new computers for Arts Integration and Technology Programs

I’m delighted to share the news that Polaris now has bragging rights about a new video and audio editing studio. We don’t know of any other Denver elementary school with a studio like ours, and it would even be rare for middle and high schools to have one.

Parents Vinnie Piturro and Elizabeth Yarnell transformed a packed storage room on our second floor into this remarkable studio. It features a green screen so students can edit special effects into their projects, special insulation for high-quality sound, editing tables, lighting equipment and a permanent home for our SAM animation projects. Mr. Piturro is a film professor at Metro State College and has recruited some of his college students to help our students and teachers get our studio up and running.

Already, Mr. Semler’s fourth graders have used the studio to create films about their Egyptian studies, thus deepening their study of history and geography through art. The children had a blast creating video skits to share what they’ve learned about everything from mummification to pharaohs. Then they used the green screen to add images of artifacts and scenes from ancient Egypt. There were great “Aha moments” when the students needed a second or third take and realized that the video editing process requires as many editing versions as writing.

This amazing new video production studio at Polaris would not be possible without our dedicated parents and the START grant, which has funded the integration of science, technology and the arts at Polaris for the past four years.

If you appreciate programs like this that make Polaris unique, please do not miss the Feb. 9 Romancing the Vine event (see more details below). Funds raised on Feb. 9 go directly to support our new studio and SAM animation program. Even if you can’t attend, you can donate to the program or sponsor a teacher ticket for the evening.

I have more good news! In December, I was able to carry forward some of our 2012 funding to purchase thirty new laptops to upgrade our technology program. Every classroom now features a brand new Promethean board. (We decided not to add one in Kindergarten where Miss Eileen did not feel it was necessary.)  Additionally, I’d like to express my gratitude to Polaris parents Jessica Cavens and Mitch Lehn, employees of Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., and Polaris parent Lisa Mortell who secured twenty donated desktop computers to replace older ones in our classrooms.

Please view our Polaris students’ innovative films at: http://polarisartsci.dpsk12.org

Principal Karin Johnson

Mid-year student interim reports come home today.

Welcome back!  The children are refreshed from break and have come back well-rested and excited about learning and seeing classmates. Today, in your child’s yellow, Thursday envelope, you will find their most recent progress report. Known as DPS “interims,” these tests give a snapshot of your child’s achievement first in the fall, then in winter and finally in spring. The primary purpose of the interims is to measure student achievement on district standards. Results also give teachers real-time information on how well students are comprehending curriculum. Our Polaris teachers do not “teach to tests,” but rather create high level curriculum and lessons to best meet the needs of gifted and high ability learners. Naturally with this level of rigor, our children perform well, and we know that they are well prepared for the most selective middle schools in Denver.

I thank you for choosing Polaris to educate your exceptional children. With the current SchoolChoice process in full swing, there has been a bit of confusion as to whether current students need to complete a SchoolChoice form. All students, that are currently enrolled at Polaris in grades Kindergarten-4th, and who have not moved outside of the Denver Public Schools district, are projected to return next year.

Warm regards,
Principal Karin Johnson

Polaris stars demonstrate perseverance and gusto!

Last Wednesday evening, I had the pleasure of attending our Salute to Scientists Event. The first floor of our school was packed with parents, grandparents and teachers here to view students’ dazzling science boards.  Each science board display told a child’s unique story of inquiry.

Student projects spanned the full gamut of inquiry. I enjoyed perusing the many projects and especially listening to the students describe:

• The Association Between Musical Tones and Color; testing to see if different tones made people see different colors and if there was any difference between adults and children
• Does fruit/veggie wash really keep fruit fresher?
• Does a dog, kid or an adult have more germs in their mouth?
• How does the turf of a soccer field affect the bounciness of a soccer ball?
• Which soda erupts the highest when Mentos are dropped into its bottle?
• Do gummy bears dissolve or get bigger in different types of liquid?
• Does a balloon charged with static electricity stick longer to some substances than others?
• Does a tornado vortex with a solid spin faster than one with just liquid?
• Does adding more sugar to hard candy make it taste better?
• How do different fluids affect the sprouting of alfalfa and fenugreek sprouts?

Thank you to our extraordinary teachers and parents who coordinated the Science Fair: Karen Van Pala, Jen Rigsby, Robin Angstadt and Tammy Chamberlain. This Salute to Scientists was such a wonderful celebration of our students’ inquiry and experimentation.

I am pleased to announce that our own fifth-grader, Natalie Angstadt, is an essay winner for the 2013 MLK Celebration. We are so proud of all our fifth-graders and their teachers for participating in this annual contest.  All entries will be displayed at Manual High School during the Martin Luther King celebration on January 18.

Congratulations to all of our Polaris students. This month we have seen exceptional science projects, creative essays, artistic, musical and dramatic performances and classroom projects. Polaris is a school where children are encouraged to take on rigorous learning with perseverance and gusto!

I hope all of you had a chance to see a message regarding school safety that I sent via eblast on Monday morning. If you did not get it, please click here.

Enjoy your winter holiday. Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

Principal Karin Johnson

During this season of gratitude, I want you to know how grateful I am for all of the support you give our school. From volunteering in classrooms or teaching electives to providing staff with monthly themed luncheons, fundraising, helping with classroom celebrations and chaperoning on field trips, you are extraordinary. Most especially, we love the encouraging notes and emails you send us. Your kind words give us a boost of joy and affirmation about our school’s mission to support and inspire your incredibly wonderful children.

This year’s Grandparents’ Tea and Thanksgiving celebration is tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 16 beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium. This is a very special day that gives us the opportunity to share some sweets and sips of tea with grandparents. We welcome grandparents or special family friends to visit students in classrooms and to join us for Thanksgiving lunch.

Linda Lipsius, mom of Dorothy in first grade, owns Teatulia, a tea bar located in the Highlands. She is donating all the tea (organically farmed in Bangladesh on a co-op they own).  Other families are donating treats and goodies and we will also have plenty of coffee brewing. Our first-graders are making some festive decorations for the tables.

If students have grandparents attending the tea, we invite the children to the auditorium at 11 a.m. to escort their grandparents back to their classrooms. Grandparents are welcome to visit and get a glimpse of daily student life at Polaris. Some of our grandparents will need to visit two or more classrooms and are welcome to visit classrooms after lunch.

Thank you to all of our volunteers who are helping us roll out our red carpet.

With much gratitude,

Principal Karin Johnson

Polaris night at The Bookies

Please join me on Thursday, Nov. 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. as we celebrate our annual holiday shopping extravaganza at The Bookies. Mrs. Axt, eight of our teachers and I will be out that evening to help you choose the perfect book titles or educational games for your child.

The Bookies is a truly amazing and unique independent book store in Denver. Located on Mississippi Avenue just east of Colorado Blvd., The Bookies has the best children’s book and educational toy selection in the metro area. If you have never experienced shopping at the Bookies, you must plan to attend.

The store’s knowledgeable staff also will be on hand to make recommendations that would be perfect for your child. In addition, Polaris teachers will have their own holiday class wish lists on display.

Twenty percent of all sales (cash or check) or 15% of credit cards sales will directly benefit our Polaris library. If you are unable to join us that evening, you can always shop the following seven days and let the sales staff know you are a Polaris community member and they will credit the Polaris school account.

Please know that our wonderful librarian Gail Axt has assembled 11,000 titles in the Polaris library specifically selected with the needs and interests our high-ability learners. Parent support for our library has helped us have one of the most current collections in DPS. All funds raised at The Bookies go towards future purchases of library materials for our students and teachers.

So, bring your children to shop and have fun with their friends or come alone to do your holiday shopping. Please join me that evening for shopping, refreshments, a bit of pre-holiday cheer and even Free Gift WRAP! Thank you for all your support!

Warm regards,

Principal Karin Johnson