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High School Happenings

February and March 2024

High SchoolHappeningsFebruary and March 2024

Welcome to the High School Newsletter for The Campus (SSAE & PPEC)

February Yetis of the Month

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Audrey Wall - SSAE Yeti of the Month

Audrey was nominated by her peers for her ability to keep her grades up, always trying her hardest, making friends laugh and making everyone feel welcome whether she knows them or not. Awesome job, Audrey, on being the February SSAE Yeti of the Month!

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Addie Blair - PPEC Yeti of the Month

Addie was nominated by her peers to be PPEC Yeti of the Month because she is an amazing student, has a great attitude, and is an awesome friend. Her persistence in everything, kindness to all, dedication to her academics, and support for others are just a few of the qualities admired by her peers. Outstanding job, Addie!

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

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Mark Your Calendar

  • March 5th - UCCS Healthcare Simulation Learning Center Visit - This tour is geared towards any health profession and will have hands-on stations.

    • Transportation provided: Meet at The Campus 8:30 am and return at 12:15 pm.
    • Dress code: Business casual (i.e. slacks, skirts, collared shirts) Interested in attending? Turn in permission form to The Campus front office. Questions? Please contact Mr. Masino, Choice & Success Advisor, michael.masino@d49.org
  • March 11th - Student Council Spirit Day - Dr. Suess Day, dress like a Dr. Suess Character
  • March 12th - UCCS Dual Credit Program Deadline (Engineering Students Only)
  • March 13th - Student Council Spirit Day - Lorax Day - Dress like the Lorax or wear orange.
  • March 13th - Student Council movie night! Watch The Lorax at The Campus starting at 3:30pm. Concessions will be available.
  • March 15th - Last day to submit any and all late in-building assignments.
  • March 18th-29th - Spring Break - Progress will pause in Edgenuity and Aleks. If students are behind in progress, they are encouraged to use this time as an opportunity to get back on track.
  • April 1st - Staff Professional Development Day - No in-person high school courses held.
  • April 3rd - High school courses resume normal class schedules.

  • April 5th - PSAT and SAT Practice Tests from 8am-12pm at The Campus. Sign up at http://bit.ly/SSAEPRACTICE. The practice test will give students access to a personalized study tools for the PSAT and SAT tests.

  • April 10th - CMAS Testing for 11th Grade Students Only - No in-person high school courses held.

  • April 11th - Science Field Trip to the Space Symposium at the Broadmoor Resort. Permission slips are required and due before Spring Break to Mrs. DeVore. For questions, reach out to julie.devore@d49.org.

  • April 12th - College PreCalculus students are presenting at the PPSC Math Colloquium from 11:30am - 3:30pm in rooms W101/102 at the PPSC Rampart Campus. Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Greg Oman from UCCS.

  • April 12th - Career Exploration in Criminal Justice Site Visit - This is for High School students, and they must sign up and turn in a permission slip. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mike Masino, michael.masino@d49.org.

  • April 17th - SAT Testing for 11th Grade Students Only - No in-person high school courses held.

  • April 19th - PSAT Testing for 9th and 10th Grade Students Only - No in-person high school courses held.

  • April 26th - SSAE Senior Breakfast and PPEC Senior Lunch - More details to come!

  • April 29th - The Campus STEM Showcase - A showcase held at The Campus where engineering, robotics, coding, drones, and exemplary science projects are evaluated, judged by panels of guests and experts, and showcased to other students. Included in this is the finals of our Campus Invitational Robotics tournament.

  • May 3rd - "A Night in Paris" High School Spring Formal at The Pinery at the Hill (775 W. Bijou St.) from 7PM to 10PM. Ticket sales information coming soon.

Practice PSAT/SAT Opportunity!

Academics Updates

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Science

Honors Biology is working on a Adaptation Project where they are to adapt an animal on Earth for another planet, dwarf planet, or moon in our solar system. The will research how the animal is suited for the atmosphere and environment on Earth, about the planet they chose, and then make changes to the animal to live on that planet. Honors Chemistry is working on calorimetry and stoichiometry labs. Students are performing labs in class and then working on mathematical calculations and Gas Laws to determine the amount of gas produced in reactions, limiting reagents, and molar amounts of reagents and products. On April 11th, 30 students will be going to the Space Symposium held at the Broadmoor Resort. Students will get to see space agencies and industry leaders from all over the world. This is the largest space-related gathering in the world and includes engineers, scientists, astronauts, industry leaders, and military. Permission Slips must be returned prior to Spring Break.
This semester is flying by! Forensic Science Students investigated and solved a crime this last month! Ask them who killed the Mayor. We will be moving into the field of forensic anthropology now! Biology: Our students applied their knowledge about enzymes to the real world and tested a "new" lactase medication to help people with lactose intolerance. We are now moving on to DNA and genetics! Physical Science students investigated metals, nonmetals, and metalloids and learned all about the periodic table. We will be moving on a exploring bonds and chemical reactions. For virtual students please make sure you are checking your email. The virtual Think CERCAs for the semester have been assigned and are due the Monday after Spring Break. Blended students, any in building work that may need to be made up is due by March 15th, 2024 before Spring Break!
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Math

Hard to believe we are only a week away from Spring Break! Algebra 1 has been working on exponents and factoring, Geometry is diving into polygon transformations and special right triangles, Algebra 2 is taking a deeper look at the relationship between logarithms and exponents, and Pre Calculus is looking at direct and inverse variation equations. Think CERCA writing assignments will be incorporated into math classes before Spring Break as well! There is a lot going on and if students need support, teachers are ready to help during Monday/Wednesday support hours (3rd, 4th and 5th), Tuesday/Thursday Zoom meetings, and in person most Friday mornings. Keep up the great work, Yeti's!
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History

US History students are concentrating on a research task discovering historical events in which individuals or groups have had to overcome difficult circumstances. They have self-selected a topic and analyzed the specific character, grit, and determination needed to rise above these challenges. Students have also selected a more modern event for comparison and have the option of sharing their own life experiences. World History students have researched and selected a topic related to WWII and are developing their own, unique "essential question" which will guide their research as they prepare to walk classmates through an in-class presentation and discussion.
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Electives

Coding 2 students are creating animations and utilizing sprite graphics to perform simple animations by moving objects in a loop. Students have been working on various projects. Coding students have completed multiple code your own projects to display their own creativity and coding skills. Drone piloting has been going well and students will complete an flying obstacle course to fly and test their drone pilot skills. Virtual Reality students have been working on coursework to understand the meta verse. Students have the chance to utilize the oculus headsets to step inside the virtual space. Pathway students completed a speech on resiliency and perseverance. Students are working through You Science skills inventory to get a better understanding of their unique skills sets and how those relate to career pathways.
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Spanish

¡Hola! Students in our Spanish class have recently completed their PBL project where they delved into the travel experience of visiting a Spanish-speaking country of their choice. They thoroughly researched and planned their travel itinerary, accommodations, excursions to places of interest, practiced appropriate etiquette, and immersed themselves in the culture of their chosen destination. This project provided a rich and meaningful learning experience for all involved.
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English I

On March 6th, English 1 students engaged in a Mock Trial. All students were assigned a pivotal role in ensuring the trial ran smoothly. I am extremely proud of their hard work, and especially proud of how serious they took this project! I think it inspired many of them to pursue a career in law and/or informed them firsthand of our justice and legal system. This week, students will be working on reflections for this trial. After we return from Spring Break, students will be completing their second ThinkCerca for the semester in English. If your student is ever struggling with course material, I have a support hour (2nd) on Monday/Wednesdays. Thank you for your continued support!

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English II & III

English 2 students are in the final stages of crafting their TED Talks, including writing scripts, practicing, sharing their progress in group feedback sessions, and recording. They will share their final talks in class, March 11th and March 13th. They have worked so hard developing their topics and collecting research so far; I can’t wait to see their final performances! English 3 and English 2 Honors students are wrapping up their independent research projects and will be sharing their findings in a final presentation just before Spring Break. So far, they have engaged with their chosen wellness/career topic by interviewing an expert, writing a how-to article, collecting and analyzing information from a variety of sources, and pursuing an experience of their own interest related to their topic. They have accomplished so much in the past few weeks! I look forward to seeing the culmination of all their hard work in their presentations.
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English I & II Honors

PPEC English I and II honors are wrapping up the quarter of career inquiry with a presentation of their research and writing a synthesized essay. It's been a busy quarter as we march into March and to Spring Break. Up next, we will delve into the world of dystopia to finish our spring semester.
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Robotics

This last month, robotics teams all faced off at one the most prestigious events in the state - the Pikes Peak Robotics Classic presented by AFCEA at the Broadmoor. Our robots competed hard against the best in the country as our robotics teams gained experience and learned how to be stronger next year. However, there is one robotics event left - the Colorado State Robotics Championships hosted by KDS. This will take place Saturday, March 2 at Kent Denver Schools Fieldhouse as our two qualified teams will go against the best Colorado has to offer! Congratulations to both of those teams 28466A Godzilla (High School) and 28466Z The Architechs (Middle School) and best of luck at State!
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Engineering

Intro to Engineering Design students continue to work on designing and building their new rocketery projects. They are challenged to design, build, and test a new model rocket that will take a payload to exactly 111 meters (+/- 10m) and return safely to Earth and be able to demonstrate important principles in Aerospace such as forces of flight and reusability! Principles of Engineering is now exploring control systems, such as using a microcontroller to build and program a marble sorting machine, separating marbles by a variety of their physical properties into separate bins...fully automated. Lastly, if your student is enrolled in an Engineering class, the deadline to enroll in UCCS Dual Credit program is March 12 - so check your email and reach out if you have questions.

Clubs & Organizations

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Yearbook

This is the last week to order Yearbooks for the 2023-2024 school year! Yearbook students have been working really hard to create a book that represents our theme of 'adventure' for the year and also represents our Campus culture! To buy your Yearbook today, please use order code 81954S & order here: https://inter-state.com/YearbookEntry/81954s
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Esports

Meets at The Campus every Wednesday from 3- 5pm for competitive Super Smash Brothers matches.

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CD (Career Development) Club

CD Club (Career Development Club) is a community where students are supported, encouraged and guided in career development and exploration.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 6th during lunch 11:15-11:30 am.

Location: Kitchen area - Northside of Campus, Pizza & Drinks Provided. Permission Form required.

Questions? Please contact Mr. Masino (michael.masino@d49.org), Choice & Success Advisor.

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Wellness Support Club (formerly Peer Tutoring)

Our club members will be hosting lunchtime workshops on various health and wellness topics and sharing newsletters filled with ideas to keep students motivated and feeling supported throughout the year. We’ll meet regularly on Fridays from 9:00 to 10:00 am. Email Mrs. Shonk (jessica.shonk@d49.org) if you are interested in joining the club to help support your peers!
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National Honors Society

National Honor Society members have displayed their pride by volunteering at a number of events including SSAE/PPEC Meet and Greets, Marian House, and the upcoming D49 Hiring Fair.

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Mission Possible Christian Club

The students of the Mission Possible Christian Club gathered last Saturday at Dave & Buster's for a celebratory event with the El Paso County Christian Clubs. The gathering was a time of fellowship, delicious food, and engaging games that brought everyone together in a spirit of fun and camaraderie.

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