LCS Monday Notes 1.17.17

Artwork by Ani Ranstrom, 4th Grade

Liberty Common School

1725 Sharp Point Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Phone: 970-482-9800 | Fax 970-482-8007 | www.libertycommon.org

Attendance Line: (Please call by 8:30 AM) 970-482-9800 Option 2

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 7:50AM - 4:00 PM

Volume 20, Issue 19

January 17, 2017

Mark your Calendar

January 17|Geography Bee, after school

January 17| 6:30 pm - LCS 6th Grade Parent Night - LCHS Great Hall(see information below)

January 19|Spelling Bee, after school

January 19|BOD Meeting, LCS, 6:00 p.m.

January 20|Chessmates

January 23|Public Information Night, LCS, 6:30 p.m.

January 26|Liberty Lecture Series-Wake Up To Weird, 6:30 p.m., LCHS

January 27|Chessmates

January 27|5th/6th Grade Science Fair, 3:30-4:00 p.m.

January 27|6th Grade Movie Night, 5-7 p.m.

January 30|Character Assembly, Citizenship|Speakers from Habitat for Humanity.

Josh McMullen, Development Director- Josh has been the Development Director for Fort Collins Habitat for just over a year now. Josh is a native of central Kansas and a graduate of the University of Wyoming, where he received a BS in Marketing and was a member of the Wyoming Track and Field team. After graduation, Josh moved to Fort Collins and started his career. For the last 13 year he has worked with Gannett (Fort Collins Coloradoan) in advertising. Throughout his time with Gannett, Josh has had the pleasure of working with many businesses in the Northern Colorado area and became an expert in advertising solutions for his clients. Josh has also been involved with volunteering and fundraising for the local chapter of the MS Society and is a board member of the local non-profit, Project Smile.

Alex Statham-Lardner, Volunteer and Youth Engagement Manager-Alex has been a staff member with Fort Collins Habitat for almost four years and caught what we lovingly call “infectious habititus” when she volunteered in high school. Alex is a Colorado native, attended Colorado State University and graduated with a degree in Journalism and Technical Communication. Alex’s favorite part of her job is getting to work with such a great diversity of people in the community. She has a passion for youth engagement and collegiate-level volunteerism. Alex lives in Wellington with her husband and their two dogs.

Learn more about Habitat for Humanity by CLICKING HERE

February 2|CVC Mtg. 8:00 a.m.

February 3|Chessmates

February 10|Free Dress Day

February 10|Winter Carnival

February 17|NO SCHOOL- Professional Development Day

Major Dates- 2016-17 Calendar

Professional Development Day-Feb. 17-NO SCHOOL
Presidents' Day-Feb. 20-NO SCHOOL
Spring Break-March 13-17-NO SCHOOL
Good Friday-April 14-NO SCHOOL
Last Day of Classes-1/2/Day May 26

T-Shirt Days

Jan. 27th
Feb. 24th
March 31st
April 28th
May 19th

2017-2018 BOD Approved School Holidays and Intermissions:

First Day of School|Aug. 28
Labor Day|Sept. 4
Parent/Teacher Conferences|Oct. 27
Thanksgiving Break| Nov. 22-24
Winter Break|Dec. 25-Jan. 5
Martin Luther King Day|Jan. 15
Professional Development Day|Feb. 16
Presidents' Day|Feb. 19
Spring Break|Mar. 12-16
Good Friday|March 30
Last Day of School-1/2 day|May 25

Attention 6th Grade Parents: Tonight is LCS 6th Grade Parent Night, 6:30 pm at LCHS Great Hall.
This evening event will serve to ensure that you, Liberty Common 6th-grade parents, are well informed regarding the opportunities, expectations, and philosophy of the junior high school years (7th and 8th grades). We want to answer your questions and ensure that you have the information you need to help your children begin their transition to 7th grade. This night will be directed to parents. 6th-grader students will have several fun-filled student-oriented transition opportunities in the coming months (CLICK HERE to review the list of upcoming events).

News from Liberty Common BOD

We closed the year with some very good news. LCHS students performed exceptionally well on the PSAT . 99% of our students scored at or above benchmark in reading/writing and 89% scored at or above in math. Additionally, the Class of 2018’s median percentile on the reading/writing section was the 91st percentile, meaning that more than half of the students in the junior class are in the top 10% of students across the nation. The PSAT is the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Approximately 3.5 million students take the test each year. Congratulations to the students and staff on these impressive results!

With the beginning of the new-year, we are glad to announce two new academic policies: history and music performance. The policies were drafted and polished by our Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) which includes founders, teachers, administrators, and parents. The Board of Directors approved these polices at our December meeting.
This quote from the History Policy will give you an idea of its intent… Our students will be armed with background knowledge and sufficient analytical skills to objectively evaluate our nation’s place in the world through a deep appreciation of its history and intensive study of related civilizations including their rising and falling. Please CLICK HERE to read the entire policy.

The Music Performance Policy will help guide instructors in their selection of musical performances. Here is an excerpt from the policy… Performance repertoire should be carefully chosen, and should focus on the analytical, historical, cultural, or creative aspects of music. Selections should also be chosen to reinforce proper vocal and instrumental technique. Please CLICK HERE to read the entire policy.

Thank you for choosing Liberty Common School for your children’s education. 2017 is going to be a great year.

Paulette Hansen
Chairman of the Board

Liberty Happenings

P ublic-Info Nights

Do you know anybody interested in sending their kids to Liberty (either campus); or just learning more about the school's history and philosophy? Please urge them to attend our next two Public-Information Night: 1) This Wednesday, January 18th 6:30 – 8:30PM in the LCHS Great Hall. 2) Next Monday, January 23rd 6:30 – 8:00PM at Liberty Common School (elementary school) in the Performance Hall. These are informative presentations for all parents wanting to know more about why we teach what we teach, and why we do what we do. For hopeful families waiting on the Liberty lottery list for any grades K - 11, attending one of these presentations puts you into the "upper tier" of those waiting for the next open-enrollment spot.

Next Liberty Lecture

The next Liberty Lecture, Wake Up To Weird, is Thursday, January 26th, 2017 6:30 – 8:00 pm. America’s best high-school art instructors Megan Salazar and Rex Seiple walk their audience through the history and elements of contemporary art. Liberty Lectures are designed for students, parents, grandparents, alumni and all friends of Liberty (both campuses). It is important for students to see adults and families gathering and devoting their leisure educational lectures on topics of cultural interest. Please plan to attend.

Attention: Job Opening. Liberty Common High School has announced an open job posting: Technology Assistant. This full-time position entails assisting with any technological issues. CLICK HERE to view job posting,

L iberty Family Death. A beloved parent in our Liberty community died tragically on Christmas Day leaving behind his wife and their three Liberty students. Mr. Richard Sinley’s funeral was held on Friday, December 30th, 2016. Many Liberty faculty and friends were in attendance. The U.S. Navy veteran’s remains have been interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver. To assist surviving family members in this time of grief and need, a special fund has been set up to receive donations. Please CLICK HERE to assist contributing online.

School Illnesses. There is a lot of illness passed around this time of year. When considering whether to keep your child home from school, please refer to this policy our school utilizes (found on the school website), based on recommendations from The Children's Hospital Colorado: CLICK HERE to view.

Liberty Legacies Books For Sale. The Liberty Legacies book was written and published by LCHS students and is for sale. The stories of the students’ grandparents, and family members are incredible. The book is on sale for $20. To purchase, CLICK HERE, or visit the Liberty Common High School front office.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE GALA TICKETS

LIBERTY COMMON

SUMMER THEATRE CAMP

Registration deadline- Feb. 3rd.

Visit http://bit.ly/LibertyTheatreCamp for more information.

Sign-Up for Chessmates

Fun begins this Friday, Jan. 20th.

Dates:

Jan 20, 27

Feb 3, 10, 24

March 3, 10, 24, 31

April 7, 21, 28

Cost: $65 for 12 weeks of class and chess instruction.

Each class includes 30 min. of instruction and 30 min. of playtime taught by an experienced

chess coach.

Registration: Online at www.chessmatesfc.com >SCHOOL CLUBS > Liberty Common

Fill out Form and make payment.

Question or Comments?

Many Ways to Support Liberty Common School

Morning Fresh Dairy Cash for Caps. Caps collected in the Front Office.

Box Tops for Education. Please cut out and check expiration date before turning in at the Front Office.

Give Your Child the Gift of Time and Energy: Be a Liberty WATCH D.O.G.

WATCHD.O.G.S . (Dads of Great Students) is an innovative father involvement, educational initiative of the National Center for Fathering (see www.fathers.com for more info). It began in 1998 in Springdale, AR and has since grown into a nationally recognized program that has brought hundreds of thousands of fathers and father figures into our nation's classrooms and hallways.

Liberty Common School's WATCHD.O.G.S. program provides many benefits for our children and our school:

Students win because the father and father-figures give their time and energy as a positive role model.

Fathers, father-figures and grandfathers get a glimpse of their student's everyday school life.

Liberty gains another set of eyes and helping hands for the day.

Become a WATCHD.O.G. today by CLICKING HERE. Go to School Forms and then scroll down the page to WATCHD.O.G. registration.

Already a WATCHDOG? Take a few minutes and Sign-Up. Remember, part-days are also appreciated.

Thank you for wanting to make a difference in the lives of Liberty Common School students.

Congratulations to the thirteen LCHS seniors who were inducted into the Legion of Thirteen last Tuesday evening. The Legion is a special order of LCHS graduates who have completed thirteen years at Liberty Common School. Last Friday, the “Thirteeners” headed to the elementary school to issue “challenge keys” to the kindergarteners.

CLICK HERE or on the nearby image link to see video from the ceremony at which kindergarteners are challenged by LCHS seniors to graduate from LCHS in 2029 and join them in the Legion of Thirteen.